^: 



Centennial History 

of the 

Borough of Connellsville 

Pennsylvania 

i8o6-igo6 



BY 



J. C. McClenathan, M. D. 

Reverend William A. Edie, 

Reverend Ellis B. Burgess, 
J. Aloysius Coll 

Eugene T. Norton 



LIMITED AUTOGRAPH EDITION. 



Registered No. 1±.-^ 






fuBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Cedes Rscelved 
NOV I iS?0f 

Copyngfht Entry 
2>^ M ^^^^ 
CLASS A XXc, No. 

/ ^vaz.^ 

COPY B. 



Copyright, 1%6 

By 

The Historical Committee of the Connellsville Centennial Celebration. 

All rights reserved. 



The Champlin Press 

CoLUM^pS' Ohio 

1906 





S^btrattntt 






Tbis to tne 


Fathers of our pri( 


le, 




Waits of a 


wander-lust 






Tbat blazed the path and stirre 


d the 


tide 


Above tbeir buried duct 






Tbe Red M 


an of the solitude, 






The hearts 


of toil and war. 






Builders of 


stone and iron and 


wood 




That made 


us what we are. 








- 


-J. A. 


Coll 



. TABLE OF CONTENTS 



Preface, 

Chapter I 

Chapter II 

Chapter III 

Chapter IV 

Chapter V 

Chapter VI 



Page 

5 

Pioneers of The Yough, . . . .7 

The Incorporation of The Borough, . 65 

Civic Development, .... 77 

Educational Institutions, . . . 120 

The Press 159 

Military History, .... 170 

Chapter VII Chartered Financial Institutions, . 219 

Chapter VIII Coal and Coke, . . . . 263 

Chapter IX Merchants of Four Generations, . 292 

Chapter X Religious Forces, .... 327 

Chapter XI Public Utilities, . . . . 393 

Chapter XII Public Institutions .... 433 

Chapter XIII Manufacturers, ..... 477 

Chapter XIV The Centennial Celebration, . . 529 

Index, ......... 561 

Map of Connellsville and Vicinity. 



PREFACE. 

Pursuant to a call of the Borough Council, an enthus- 
iastic body of the citizens of Connellsville met in the council 
chamber of the City Hall on the evening of January twenty- 
third, nineteen hundred and six. to consider the proposi- 
tion to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the 
founding of the Borough. Rockwell Marietta was elected 
president of the meeting ; Edmund Dunn, vice president ; 
William D. McGinnis, secretary ; Raymond S. Coll, corres- 
ponding secretary, and Isaac W. Rutter. treasurer. The 
sentiment of the meeting was favorable to the holding of 
such a celebration, and a strong executive committee of 
representative men was appointed to take the matter in 
charge. A number of sub-committees, deemed necessary 
to the success of the celebration, were also appointed and 
their duties defined. 

Among these committees was the Historical Committee, 
consisting of Doctor J. C. McClenathan. Rev. William A. 
Edie, Rev. Ellis B. Burgess, J. Aloysius Coll. H. P. Sny- 
der and Eugene T. Norton, to whom was assigned the 
task of preparing a historical volume from the written 
and unwritten records of the past. The magnitude of 
the task, in view of the limited time, was clearly recog- 
nized, yet there was an eager determination manifested 
on the part of each member of the committee to render 
the best possible service. 

After the policies of the committee had been carefully 
outlined, the work was begun. Every nook and cranny of 
the town, in which it was believed old documents might be 
stored, was searched. Old family Bibles with their pre- 
cious records and other valuable papers were carefully 
examined. Correspondence was begun with the scattered 



b CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

sons and daughters of the pioneers. The response was 
quite gratifying. While many found it impossible to an- 
swer our questions, all were willing to render the largest 
possible assistance. We take this opportunity of extending 
to them one and all our hearty appreciation. The Execu- 
tive Committee of the Centennial Association also mani- 
fested a deep interest in the work, and gave liberal financial 
assistance, without which this volume could not have been 
published. We realize that in many places we have not 
been able to supply the fullest information, but we have 
aimed at thoroughness and endeavored to confine ourselves 
to well authenticated facts. The data given will be found 
more reliable than that of any previous local historv. 

With all the labor involved in the preparation of this 
volume, the task of the committee has been a pleasant one. 
Our delving amid the ruins of the past has given us a 
stronger appreciation of the character of the men who laid 
the foundations of the city. We give our work to the pub- 
lic in the hope that a better knowledge of the work of the 
fathers may arouse our civic spirit and make us worthy 
successors of worthv mjin. 









■^ 




CHAPTER I 

THE PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 

One hundred and fifty-five years ago — a short time 
in the perspective of history — the site of Connellsville was 
part of a vast wilderness, whose solitudes were rarely 
broken by the visit of any white man. All that section of 
country now embraced within the confines of Fayette 
county was claimed by the powerful federation of north- 
ern Indian tribes known as the Iroquois. By permission of 
these northern Indians, several tribes of Delawares and 
Kanhawhas made it their home. One of these tribes loca- 
ted their village on what is , known as the Shield's tract 
about five miles east of Connellsville. Here an extensive 
burial ground was located covering several acres, a ridge 
of small round stones marking the position of each grave. 
Historians who have visited the spot believe that more than 
a thousand Redmen here sleep the sleep of death. Sev- 
eral of these graves were opened, a few years ago, reveal- 
ing a thin line of dark brown dust at a depth of two and a 
a half feet where the body had lain. A number of flints 
of various kinds were found, but no bones, indicating a 
great age for the old burial place. Near this burial ground 
an old Indian fort was located, around which large num- 
bers of flints were picked up a generation ago. The indi- 
cations are that this was once the site of a large and pop- 
ulous village of the Redmen. Another and smaller village 
was located on the south bank of the Youghiogheny River 
about two miles above the mouth of Bear Run. Here also 
quite a number of flints have been found. It is to these 
Kanhawha Indians, who built their villages along the head 
waters of the Youghiogheny, that we are indebted for the 
name of our beautiful river. Youghiogheny, in the lang- 



8 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

uage of the Kanhawhas, means "four rapid streams," and 
has reference to the junction of the rivers at Confluence, 
Pa. 

Another Indian village was that of the Delaware chief, 
Nemacolin, on Dunlap's creek in the northwestern part 
of the county. Still another village was located in Perry 
township on lands of James Hunter. A gold amulet, a 
silver knee-buckle and other interesting relics were found 
here. The most important Indian village of the region, 
however, from the standpoint of local interest, was situated 
on the Wilkey farm a short distance southwest of New 
Haven. This was a palisaded village of the Dela wares, 
occupying a beautiful knoll that commands a wide view of 
the surrounding country. It is an ideal site for a home. 
The palisades extended in the form of a great circle about 
the brow of the hill, and enclosed more than four acres 
of ground. Within this enclosure the Indians had their 
huts and also their burial ground. Hundreds of bodies 
are believed to have been buried here, and every spring 
human bones and Indian relics of various kinds are turned 
up by the plow. A fine scalping knife, battle-axe and other 
Indian flints from this old fort are now in the possession 
of the writer. About two hundred yards directly east from 
the fort ran the old Catawba war trail. Between the fort 
and the trail was one of the finest springs of water in all 
this section of the country, which the Indians walled up 
with masonry, a wall within a circular wall, the stones 
being laid in a cement made of yellow clay. Portions of 
this stone work can still be seen. Just without the enclo- 
sure, on the southern side of the hill, was an old Indian 
apple orchard, one of whose trees was still standing a few 
years ago. Buried beneath its friendly shade the bodies 
of two Indians were found lying side by side. Several 
years ago, in digging a post hole in the center of the old 
fort, workmen came upon the skeleton of an Indian chief. 
From the size of the bones it was evident that he was a 
man of powerful physique. A string of sixty-one ivory 



PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 9 

beads was found around his neck. The splendid preserva- 
tion of these remains, as well as the finding of an old 
musket barrel in one of the graves, would indicate that 
this village was occupied by the Indians as late as the first 
three or four decades of the eighteenth century. But at the 
time of the English occupation the fort had been destroyed; 
by whose hands no one can tell. The only one of these 
villages then occupied was that of Nemacolin, so that we 
may speak of all the region under consideration as "a land 
without a people." 

One hundred and fifty-five years have transformed this 
deserted hunting ground of the Iroquois into the eastern 
gateway of an empire of fabulous wealth and universal 
influence. Ultra-montane America, the miracle of civic 
history, now sways the world. Who were the men and what 
were the influences that made this mighty transformation 
possible? To these, so far as they relate to the develop- 
ment of the Yough region, this chapter of history is de> 
voted. A well-established tradition informs us that a num- 
ber of bold French traders from the Canadas with their 
Indian wives built their homes on the Monongahela river 
at the mouth of the George's Creek as early as 1730. If 
this be true, Fayette county enjoys the distinction of hav- 
ing the first settlement of white men in western Pennsyl- 
vania. Some features of the tradition, however, may rea- 
sonably be questioned. The French traders of that period 
Were about as wild as the Redmen with whom they traded, 
and had little desire for a permanent home. It is prob- 
ably true that they lived here at the time specified and culti- 
vated some of the soil, but it is scarcely credible that they 
occupied the land with any intention of efifecting a perma- 
nent settlement. Long before the first wave of English set- 
tlers had poured through the defiles of the Alleghanies they 
had gathered their possessions together and sought a more 
congenial home in the virgin forests of the great West. 

Another tradition, of even more doubtful value, tells 
of a Pennsvlvania German trapper named Longabaugh, who 



10 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

built his solitary cabin in what is now Soisson Park about 
the year 1732. Here he is said to have lived the life of a 
hermit for more than sixty years, never having married, 
and never having permitted any one to share his cabin. 
He is described as a man of unusual strength and agility, 
fearless of every danger, and uniformly successful in all 
his encounters with the Indians. He lived by the chase, 
carrying his peltry on his shoulders to the nearest trading 
post and bringing back such things as he found necessary 
to his humble life. In the summer of 1800 he mysteriously 
disappeared. A neighboring settler, John Trump, who 
went to the cabin, found everything in good order, but the 
old hunter had gone, and never returned. The ravine that 
traverses the park still bears his name. 

The oldest English settlement in Fayette county, of 
which we have an authentic record, was made in 1751 by 
Wendell Brown and his three sons, Maunus, Thomas and 
Adam. This was about two years before Christopher Gist 
effected his settlement at Mount Braddock. The Browns 
built their first cabin in Provance's Bottom along the Mon- 
ongahela river, but for some reason the Indians did not 
want them there, and persuaded them to take up other 
land in George's township. For several years these four 
men lived in these western wilds alone, with only the Red- 
men for their neighbors. Yet they were never molested. 
On one occasion, Thomas was caught spying upon the In- 
dians, and had his teeth knocked out by a tomahawk for 
his insolence ; but aside from this they received the most 
kind and generous treatment as neighbors and friends. 
The French occupation of Fort Ducjuesne, in 1751, put ap 
end to this strange experience. The Browns partrioticallv 
rallied to the help of Colonel Washington, doing every- 
thing they could to furnish him with provisions for his lit- 
tle army. They were at Fort Necessity at the time of the 
surrender, July 1, 1751 ; and, their cabin having been de- 
stroyed by the French, returned with the defeated army 
to Virginia. In 1758, after the expulsion of the French 



PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 11 

by General John Forbes, they returned to Fayette county, 
bringing" with them their wives and children and estab- 
lishing" themselves permanently in their western homes. 

The history of western Penns}'lvania, however, is more 
than the history of individual endeavor. The French 
traders and their wives on the Alonongahela river, Wendell 
Brown and his three stalwart sons in George's township. 
Bud Longabaugh in his hunters cabin on the Chestnut 
Ridge and Christopher Gist with his little company of set- 
tlers at Mount Braddock, were but pawns in the great game 
of politics played by France and England for the control of 
western Pennsylvania and the Ohio valley. To the French 
King must be credited the first move. The whole western 
country was claimed for him by right of discovery. This 
claim was further enforced by actual possession. From 
his well established military posts in the Canadas he sent 
out his men into every part of the western country, carry- 
ing with them presents of all kinds, and receiving fine furs 
and the favor of the Indians in return. Cp to the year 
1740, nearly all of this rich fur trade was under French 
control. In that year George Croghan, the influential Irish 
trader, crossed the mountains by way of the Conemaugh 
Valley, and entered into competition with the Canadians. 
The Proprietaries of Pennsylvania, in IT 48, sent Conrad 
Weiser, in company with Croghan and others, to Logstown 
on the Ohio river to treat with the Indians and endeavor 
to win their favor. Their mission was successful. 

The Indians were ready to treat with both the Eng- 
lish and the French, inasmuch as this meant more presents 
for them and higher prices for their furs. In that same 
year, John Hanbury, a merchant of London, Thomas Lee 
and a number of other prominent Virginians formed the 
"Ohio Company," and petitioned the king for a grant of 
five hundred thousand acres of land on the south bank of 
the Ohio river, on condition that they would effect an 
English settlement in the forks of the Ohio, build a fort 
and maintain a garrison. It was purely a commercial 



12 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



enterprise but the king was quick to see its political im- 
portance, and, on March 18, 1749, instructed the Lieuten- 
ant Governor of Virginia to make the grant according to 
the terms proposed. The company at once purchased land 
and established a trading post at the mouth of Will's 
Creek, intending to make this a base of supplies for their 
work. 

Christopher Gist, one of Fayette county's most illus- 
trious pioneers, then a resident of North Carolina, was 
employed by the company to explore these lands. He set 
out on his journey, October 31, 1750, and returned May 
19, 1751, during which time he traveled about twelve hun- 
dred miles, and visited many Indian towns, finding them 
all eager to enter into trade relations with the English. 
But. inasmuch as his explorations were chiefly confined to 
the country north of the Ohio river, he was sent out a sec- 
ond time with special instructions to explore the land "be- 
tween Mohongaly and Big Conhaway." This second tour 
employed him from November -4, 1751, to March 29, 1752, 
and enabled him to make a more satisfactory report to the 
company. To Colonel Thomas Cresap of Oldtown, Md., 
was entrusted the important task of opening up a trade- 
road over the mountains. Securing the assistance of Nem- 
acolin, the well-known Delaware Indian chief of Fayette 
county, he marked out a road from the mouth of Will's 
Creek over the mountains to Mount Braddock, and thence 
along the valley of Redstone creek to the Monongahela 
river. This was not a new road but a well-beaten Indian 
trail that had been used by the Redmen for many years. 
The road from Mount Braddock to the mouth of Redstone 
creek followed a branch of the main trail. In 1753 this 
road was cleared at a considerable expense by the Ohio 
Company and made passable for pack-horses. 

These aggressive movements of the English were 
viewed with serious alarm by the French, who determined 
to establish garrisons in the disputed territory. Accord- 
ingly they built Fort Presque Isle early in 1749, and Forts 



PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 13 

Le Boeuf and Venango soon after, with the intention of 
making them the first hnks of a great chain of forts ex- 
tending from Lake Erie by way of the Ohio Valley to 
the Gulf of Mexico. A number of English traders were 
seized on the Ohio and taken to Canada. Then it was 
England's turn to be alarmed. ^Nlajor George Washington, 
then a young man 21 years of age, was sent to Fort Le 
Boeuf by Governor Dinwiddle of Virginia to demand an 
explanation of these outrages and incidentally to acquaint 
himself with the designs of the French. Accompanied by 
two interpreters he came to the home of Christopher Gist 
at Will's Creek, and asked him to be his companion and 
guide on the long and dangerous journey. It was Xovem- 
ber 14 of the year 1753, and a journey through the wilder- 
ness of northwestern Peimsylvania in the dead of the win- 
ter was no pleasing prospect, but it was the king's busi- 
ness, and the next morning ]\Ir. Gist led the way over 
the mountains. The following Sunday was spent by the 
little party in the new home erected by Mr. Gist at Mount 
Braddock during the preceding summer. 

Arriving at Logstown, five days later, they were joined 
by the Half King and three other friendly Indians, who 
accompanied them through the forest on their way to the 
French forts. 

At Fort Le Boeuf, Washington presented his creden- 
tials, and was received with characteristic French civilitv. 
The Commandants admitted the arrest of the English 
traders on the Ohio, but declined to discuss the justice of 
it, saying that they had received their orders from the 
French government, which, as true soldiers, they were 
bound to obey. 

After two days of fruitless parleying, Washington, 
with heavy heart started on his long journey homeward. 
It was, confessedly, one of the most trying experiences of 
his life. In his private journal he says of the trip from Le 
Boeuf to Venango : "We had a tedious and very fatiguing 
passage down the creek. Several times we had liked to 



It!: centennial history of connellsvtlle 

have been staved against rocks ; and many times were 
obliged all hands to get out and remain in the water half 
an hour and more, getting over the shoals. At one place 
the ice had lodged and made it impassable by water ; we 
were, therefore, obliged to carry our canoe across the neck 
of land, a c[uarter of a mile over. We did not reach Ven- 
ango until the 22nd, where we met our horses." The over- 
land trip from Venango to Mount Braddock was even more 
exhausting. The way lay through the winter forest with 
only an occasional deserted Indian hut to offer protection 
against the cold. The springs were frozen so hard that it 
was difficult to secure water to drink. On the fourth day 
they fell in with an Indian, who had evidently followed 
them all the way from Venango with malicious intent. 
Toward evening he attempted to kill Washington but failed. 
Gist was angry and wanted to kill the Indian at once, but 
Washington magnanimously interposed and sent him away 
unharmed. After enduring the greatest fatigue the two 
men reached the Mount Braddock settlement on the second 
day of January of the new year. Here they met a party 
of Virginians, in the employ of the Ohio Company, on 
their way to the west with seventeen horses laden with 
materials and stores for the proposed English fort in the 
forks of the Ohio. 

It was the purpose of the Ohio Company to entrust 
the building of this fort to Colonel Thomas Cresap, Captain 
Trent and Christopher Gist, but developments came so 
thick and fast that memorable winter that Governor Din- 
widdle sent Captain Trent with a company of forty-one 
men to the scene of action before Washington and Gist had 
returned from their trip to Le Boeuf. Captain Trent was a 
Pennsylvanian by birth, a business partner of George Crog- 
han and Benjamin Franklin, a man of considerable intel- 
ligence and well qualified for the task. He hastened with 
his force to the mouth of Redstone Creek (one mile below 
Brownsville) where he built the log storehouse known as 
the "Hangard." From this point he marched by land and 



PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 15 

ice to the forks of the Ohio where, on February l?th, he 
began the erection of a fort. By means of friendly Indian 
scouts he learned that the French were about to descend the 
river in force from Venango, and, leaving his little com- 
pany under the command of Ensign Ward, hastened over 
the mountains for reinforcements. The fort was not yet 
completed when it was invested, April 17, 1751:, by a force 
of more than one thousand French and Indians. Resistance 
was hopeless. The fort was surrendered and the little gar- 
rison retreated up the Monongahela to the Hangard and 
thence across the mountains to Will's Creek. The victor^ 
completed the captured fort and named it Fort Duquesne, 
in honor of the French Governor-General of Canada. 

The interest in the great game of the two monarchs 
now became intense. Diplomacy was discarded. The war 
god was summoned to preside. Lieutenant-Colonel George 
Washington was commissioned to lead a regiment of Vir- 
ginia troops against the invaders. This force at the begin- 
Tiing numbered 150 men, but was subsequently increased 
to 293. The inadequacy of this small force was fully real- 
ized by all, but, at a council of war held April 23rd, it 
was decided to march as far as the Hangard, fortify the 
place and hold it until reinforcements should arrive. The 
Indians were especially eager for the war, and it was 
chiefly because of their importunities that the advance was 
made. At Great Meadows the command was met by Chris- 
topher Gist, who brought the news that AI. La Force with 
a scouting party of fifty men had been at his Mount Brad- 
dock home the day before and would have destroyed all his 
property but for the intervention of two Indians who were 
on guard. Washington then entrenched his arm}- and sent 
out his scouts along the trail. By the cunning of the Half 
King and his Indians the hiding place of this scouting party 
was discovered, about five hundred yards east of the trail. 
Leaving a strong guard for his baggage, Washington led 
his men through the deep woods at night and surprised the 
Frer'^h in their camp. As soon as they were discovered 



PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 17 

the Virginians and their Indian aUies rnshed to the attack. 
After fifteen minutes of sharp fighting the French were 
overwhehiied. Nine of their number, inchiding Junion- 
ville, were killed, one severely wounded and twenty-one, 
including their commander, captured. Fayette county was 
thus the ground on which Washington fought his first bat- 
tle and achieved his first victory. After the fight was over 
the French prisoners claimed that they were friendly en- 
vovs, but the Virginia Colonel believed them to be hostile 
spies and treated them accordingly. Two days later Wash- 
ington advanced his forces to Mount Braddock, where he 
began the erection of a fort, but, learning that the French 
were preparing to send an overwhelming force against him, 
a council of war was held at which it was unanimously 
decided to retreat to Will's creek. But the retreat was 
found more difficult than the advance. The whole army 
had only "two miserable teams fit for use and a few pack 
horses." Washington himself gave up his saddle horse to 
be loaded with munitions of war. The command had nine 
swivel guns and these were dragged over the rough moun- 
tain road by hand. Upon reaching the Great Meadows it 
was found that the overburdened soldiers were too ex- 
hausted to proceed any further, and it was decided to for- 
tify and defend themselves as best they could, while wait- 
ing for re-inforcements and needed supplies. Because of 
these conditions their fort was named Fort Necessity. 

In the meantime the French had not been idle. News 
of their first disaster had been carried to Fort Duquesne 
by fugitives, and, on June 28, Captain De Villiers, a half 
brother of the slain Jumonville, with a force of 500 French 
and almost as many Indians, set out on an expedition of 
retaliation. The command ascended the Monongahela in 
periguas as far as the Hangard. Here De Villiers left 
all his artillery and made a rapid night march to Mount 
Braddock, hoping to surprise and effect a speedy capture 
of the entire English force, but, when they reached the 
fort, the Virginians had disappeared. Chagrined at his 



18 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

failure the French commander was about to retreat to the 
Hangard. when a deserter brought the intelhgence that 
Washington had buih a fort at the Great Meadows, only 
thirteen miles to the east, and was not in a position to 
resist a spirited attack. The French then pressed for- 
ward, and, on the morning of July 3rd. came in sight of 
the fort. A heavy rain was falling, and no attempt was 
made to capture the fort by direct assault. Scattering 
themselves through the woods on the high ground nearest 
the fort, the assailants kept up an incessant rifle fire at 
long range during the entire day. At eight o'clock in the 
evening the firing ceased, and De Villiers requested a 
parley. The terms of capitulation proposed by the French 
were promptly accepted, and signed by the commanding 
officers at the hour of midnight, so that at sunrise, on the 
morning of July -ith, 175-1:, the English marched out of their 
fort with drums beating and colors flying, on their way 
to the east. Washington's loss in the engagement was 
12 killed and 43 wounded ; the French loss was 3 killed 
and 17 wounded. The baggage of the Virginians v/as 
almost a complete loss, since the men were too much ex- 
hausted to bring it away. The jubilant French destroyed 
the fort on the morning of the evacuation and in the after- 
noon began a hasty retreat to Fort Duquesne. At the Gist 
settlement, a compau}- of men. under M. de la Chauvig- 
nerie, was detailed to destroy all the English settlements 
in the disputed territory. The store house of the Ohio 
Company and fourteen settler's homes were burned to the 
ground. Twelve of these homes were in the Mount Brad- 
dock settlement. One of them was the home of William 
Stewart, the New Haven pioneer, who located here in 
1753 and after whom the crossings of the Yough were 
then named. The heaviest loser was Christopher Gist, 
whose actual losses were not less than one thousand dol- 
lars. In October of the same year, he petitioned the Vir- 
ginia House of Burgesses for an indemnity, but his peti- 
tion was rejected, an act of clear injustice to the man who 
ranks among the most influential of Virginia's pioneers. 



20 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

The results of the campaign in 1754 were greatly dis- 
appointing to Governor Dinwiddle and the British Minis- 
try, but they recognized the bravery of Washington and 
his men, and made them a special grant of two hundred 
thousand acres of western land as a reward for their serv- 
ices, in addition to their regular pay. And although their 
first effort had resulted in failure it strengthened their 
determination to possess and control the valley of the Ohio. 

A more formidable campaign was planned, and, on 
June 7th, 1755, the van guard of the army of Major Gen- 
eral Sir Edward Braddock left Fort Cumberland on its 
way to the west. This army of General Braddock was 
composed of the 44th and 48th regiments of English in- 
fantry, together with a number of independent companies 
of Colonial troops, numbering all told 3150 effective men. 
Lieutenant Colonel Washington accompanied the expedi- 
tion as one of the general's aides. The army moved slowly, 
and, on June 28, reached the Gist settlement at Mount 
Braddock. From this point Braddock moved to the north 
along the old Catawba Indian trail, widening the road and 
making it passable for the heavy artillery as he went. On 
June 29 the army encamped at New Haven, and, on the 
following day crossed the Yough and encamped on the 
old Davidson farm. It was the original intention of the 
commanding general to follow the Nemacolin path all the 
way to the French fort, but, for' some reason, this plan 
was abandoned; and, turning sharp to the left, he crossed 
the Monongahela river at "Braddock's Upper Ford" near 
McKeesport, thence down the river to a point below the 
mouth of Turtle Creek, where he recrossed the river to the 
field of battle. The French, numbering less than three 
hundred men, were posted on the high ground opposite 
the fording to dispute the English advance. The Indians, 
numbering about seven hundred, concealed themselves in 
two deep ravines extending down to the river on either 
side of the French position. As the well-drilled English 
infantry advanced to the attack and drove back the French, 



PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 21 

the Indians suddenly arose from their conceahiient hke 
a horde of screaming" devils and from behind trees and 
fallen logs poured such a murderous fire upon the Eng- 
lish flanks that the battle was soon transformed into a 
horrible massacre. If the English officers had been familiar 
with the ground and cleared the ravines by a spirited 
charge they might have changed defeat into victory, but 
they were not. Of the 1460 brave men who crossed the 
river on that memorable morning of July 9, 1755, no less 
than 8TT were killed or wounded, of whom 63 were com- 
missioned officers. General Braddock himself received a 
mortal wound. Every officer above the rank of captain 
except Washington, who seemed to bear a charmed life, 
was either killed or disabled. The panic-stricken remnant 
of the army which succeeded in escaping to the south bank 
of the Monongahela could not be rallied, and the retreat 
became a wild rout. All the night long the dazed men 
fled through the forests, nor rested until they had placed 
manv miles between themselves and their dreaded' foes. 
A number of the bravest, under Captain Stewart of the 
Virginia troops, rallied about their stricken General and 
bore him from the field. Fortunately for the defeated 
army, the Indians were too intent on scalps and plunder 
to attempt any pursuit, or hundreds more would certainly 
have perished. Immediately after the battle, Washington 
with an escort of two private soldiers was sent with dis- 
patches to Colonel Dunbar encamped on Laurel Hill, urg- 
ing him to hurry forward all his available men to cover the 
army's retreat and also to provide hospital stores. The 
messengers reached Dunbar's camp early the next morning, 
but the news of the defeat created a second panic. The 
cowardly teamsters unhitched their horses and fled. Many 
of the soldiers followed their example, and it was only 
b_v adopting heroic measures that Dunbar prevented the 
flight of his entire command. The next day the wounded 
general with his faithful escort reached the camp. Under 
a courageous leader it might have been possible to have 



22 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

rallied the broken army here and made a second advance, 
but leadership and courage were both lacking, and it was 
soon apparent that orders would be issued to retreat to 
Fort Cumberland. Whether Braddock ever gave this or- 
der or not is uncertain, but, if it was given, Dunbar was 
only too ready to obey. The preparations for the retreat 
were begun by the destruction of the artillery, the muni- 
tions of war and all the supplies that had been forwarded 
to this point. iVll the artillery, with the exception of two 
pieces, was bursted; fifty thousand pounds of powder were 
emptied into a large pool of water, nearly all the solid shot 
were buried and a number of wagons which it was found 
impossible to move because of the desertion of the team- 
sters with their horses were burned. Then the retreat be- 
gan. 

At the end of the first days' march the army encamped 
about two miles west of the Great Meadows. Here, at 
eight o'clock on the evening of July 13, Braddock breathed 
his last. Washington and Orme, two of his faithful aide^, 
remained with him to the end. Shortly before he died he 
bequeathed to Washington his favorite horse as well as 
his body servant, evidencing the warmest affection for 
the young Virginian. The next morning he was buried 
in the camp where he died, and all traces of his grave were 
carefully obliterated, in order to prevent the possible mutil- 
ation of his body by pursuing Indians. Fifty- seven years 
later, workmen, engaged in repairing the road at this place 
under the direction of Abraham Stewart, exhumed the 
bones of a man believed to have been General Braddock. 
The people of the vicinity believed this and collected some 
of the larger bones as relics. About eight years after these 
bones had been found, some of them were collected by J\Ir. 
Stewart and reinterred at a spot which has ever since 
been known as Braddock's grave. Whether the bones 
were really those of the ill-fated general no man knows. 
After Braddock's death the retreat of his army to Fort 
Cumberlind was conduc^:ed in a more orderly manner. 




jraddock's grave. 



24 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

The wagon train with its burden of sick and wounded led 
the advance, tlien came the main body of tlie army with 
the remaining artillery and ammunition, and finally two 
full companies of the English infantry and Captain Stew- 
art's Virginians as the rear guard. Fort Cumberland was 
reached without further mishap, July 20, and, thus the 
second effort to wrest the control of the valley of the Ohio 
from the French ended in greater disaster than the first. 

For the ■ next three years the country was left in the 
undisputed possession of the French and their allies. The 
Indians made daring raids over the mountains, and no Eng- 
lish settler was bold enough to establish a home on the 
disputed territory. In 1756 there were scarcely one hun- 
dred men found in Cumberland county, then embracing all 
the territor}- of Pennsylvania west of the Susquehanna 
River, which the preceding year had a population of more 
than three thousand. Hundreds of settlers abandoned their 
homes, and desolation ruled everywhere along the border. 
This condition of things remained until William Pitt be- 
came Prime Minister of England. B_v him new life was 
instilled into the English colonies, and, in 1758, General 
John Forbes with an army of l.ood men, frightened the 
French out of Fort Duquesne, and built Fort Pitt in its 
place. This bloodless victory established the English in 
control of the valley of the Ohio, and Opened up the land 
once more for settlement. 

In the spring of 1759 the boldest of the English pion- 
eers began to return to their western homes. It was an 
exceedingly hazardous venture because of the continued 
hostility of the Indians, and only the bravest were willing 
to undertake it. Among these were the Browns of George's 
township and the Gists of Mount Braddock. Christopher 
Gist the father of the latter family was one of the boldest 
men on the frontier. He was of English descent, being 
one of the three sons of Richard Gist of Maryland. He 
was married to Miss Sarah Howard and had five children, 
Nathanial, Richard, Thomas, Anne and Violette. He built 



r-i::::EERS cf the yough 3o 

his first cabin at Mount Bracldock in 1T53, but v/as so 
busily engaged in the miHtary and civil service of Mr- 
ginia that he never seems to have made it his home. In 
1754: this cabin was destroyed by the French, and, in 
1759, when his children returned to rebuild it, he was sum- 
moned on a mission to the southern Indians, among whom 
he was stricken with the small-pox from which he died. 
During the Braddock campaign he rendered the most val- 
uable service to the English general as guide and scout, 
a service for which the King gave him a special grant 
of several thousand acres of western land. It is said that 
on the morning" of the fight at Braddock's field he had- 
reached, in company with two Indians, a point within a 
half mile of Fort Ducjuesne. The greater portion of liis 
life was spent on the frontier, often among rough irre- 
sponsible men, but in spite" of all this he is known to have 
been a man of sterling moral character and strong religious 
feelings. To him, strange as it may seem, belongs the 
credit of having conducted the first Protestant services 
among the Indian? of the state of (Jhio.. This was on 
Christmas day of the year 1150, and the Indians were so 
well pleased v»-ith him that they urged him to remain among 
them as a missionary. He was a devoted member of the 
Church of England. Of his children, Nathanial married 
and removed to Kentucky. During the revolutionar}- war 
he was a Colonel in the 'Virginia line. Some of the most 
eminent citizens of Kentucky are numbered among his 
descendants. His sister Anne, who never .-narried, made 
her home with him. Molette was married to William 
Cromwell. Richard Gist perished at the battle of Kings' 
Mountain. Thomas Gist remained at Mount Braddock and 
tventuallv became the owner of all his father's land,- a 
princelv estate of more than twenty-three hundred acres. 
As a man of large possessions, he was also a man of large 
influence. He held a commission as a Justice of the Peace 
for Ciimberland county in 1770, which was renewed b) 
Be:! ford countv in 1771 and bv Westmoreland countv in 



26 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

ii?;':. He entertained George Washington at his home in 
1770. In 1780 he died and was buried by request on his 
Mount Braddock farm. His only daughter, Ehzabeth 
Johnson, and his brother's children shared the estate, the 
larger part of which soon after passed into the hands of 
Colonel Isaac Meason. 

From 1759 to 1765 the Gists had but few neighbors. 
Many bold Virginians would have been glad to take up the 
rich lands adjoining, but the Indian terror held them in 
check. Practically the only settlements that were made in 
the new country during these first six years of the Eng- 
lish occupation were those in the immediate vicinity of 
Fort Pitt, Fort Burd and Fort Ligonier, under military 
permits. Here the settlers were under the protection of 
the garrisons, but in the surrounding country the Indians 
were the masters. No white man could live in the open 
country west of the Laurel Hill in safety, unless he had 
in some way secured the permission of the Redmen. It 
was not until 1763, when Colonel Henry Bouquet inflicted 
a decisive defeat upon them at Bushy Run in Westmore- 
land county, that they were willing to make terms of peace. 
This was the signal gun for western settlement. In the 
spring of 1765, a large number of settlers, chiefl}^ from Vir- 
ginia, built their cabin homes on Fayette county soil. But 
these first settlers were all trespassers. Neither the Indians 
nor the English government wanted them here. The land 
still belonged to the Indians, and it was the policy of the 
English King, now that he was once more at peace with 
the French, to cultivate their good will. 

On October 7, 1763, the King had issued a special 
proclamation, in which he affirmed his tender regard for 
his red children, his desire to protect them in the pos- 
session of their hunting grounds and forbidding any officer 
of the crown to grant warrants of survey for any of the 
Indian lands. The authorities of both Virginia and Penn- 
sylvania endeavored to enforce the terms of the procla- 
mation, but with little eflrect. The risins: tide of emigTa- 



PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 



tion overflowed all restraints. In June 1}(J(), Captain Alex- 
ander AlacKay was sent to Fort Burd wth a company of 
soldiers, with instructions to expel the trespassers from 
the country. But the settlers laughed at all their threats 
and stuck to their homes. The situation then became so 
grave that Governor Penn issued a manifesto, September 
23, 176G, in which he forbade "all his Majesty's subjects 
of this, or any other province or colony, from making any 
settlements, or taking possession of lands, by marking trees 
or otherwise beyond the limits of the last Indian purchase 
within this province, upon pain of the severest penalties 
of the law, and of being excluded from the privilege of 
securing such settlements should the lands, where they are 
made, be hereafter purchased of the Indians." But still 
the forests rang with the sound of the axes of the pioneers. 
On February 3, 1708, an Act of Assembly was passed, 
imposing the severest penalties upon all violators of the 
settlement laws, and a special commission, with a Presby- 
terian minister at its head, was sent to western Pennsyl- 
vania to induce the settlers to vacate. Several conferences 
were held with the settlers in this vicinity, who respectfully 
listened to the words of the gentlemen of the commission, 
but declined to give up their homes. They were not afraid 
of the Indians ; thev were not afraid of the civil power, 
they were not afraid of anything. Those who were expelled 
by force of arms waited until the soldiers had returned to 
the fort and then quietly resumed possession. For a while 
it was feared that this lawless settlement of the country 
would precipitate a war with the Indians, but, in October 
1768, a treaty was held with the Iroc|uois at Fort Stanwix, 
New York, at which time the Pennsylvania proprietaries 
purchased all the land west of the Laurel Hill and south 
and east of the Ohio and Allegheny rivers for the con- 
sideration of £10,000. The express assent of the Dela- 
wares and Shawnees was not given to this sale, but they 
acquiesced. The Iroquois were the rightful owners of the 
land. 



28 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

On April 3, 17G9, the Pennsylvania land office was 
opened for the disposition of these lands. There was such 
a rush that it was found necessary to put the applications 
in a box as they were received and draw them out in lot- 
tery fashion in order to decide conflicting' claims. In spite 
all the threats of the State to debar the first settlers from 
any share in the newly purchased lands they were actually 
given the preference on all occasions. The surveys for the 
Fayette county lands were begun by Archibald, Moses and 
Alexander McClean on August 12, 1T(39. About one hun- 
dred and fifty surveys were made within the present limits 
of the county during the first two years, showing how 
quickly the best lands were taken up. The price of the 
land was first fixed at £5 per 100 acres and a nominal 
quit rent to the proprietaries of a penny a year for each 
acre. A few years later the c[uit rent was removed, and 
the price reduced as low as 50 s per 100 acres. During 
the boundar}^ controversy with Virginia, "Virginia cer- 
tificates" were issued to all settlers who would build a 
cabin and raise one crop, at the rate of ten shillings for 
each one hundred acres. Each certificate was limited to 
four hundred acres. Because of the comparative cheap- 
ness of these lands, many of the settlers in southwestern 
Pennsylvania took out their titles under the laws of Mr- 
ginia. All of the early settlers of the Yough region, so 
far as we can learn, purchased their lands from the State 
of Pennsvlvania. 

One of the most prominent figures among these pio- 
neers of 1765 was AVilliam Crawford. He was born in 
what is now Berkeley county, West Virginia, in 1732. His 
parents were Scotch-Irish, and many of the virtues of that 
hardy race were accentuated in him. In 1736, his father 
died, leaving two children, William and Valentine. His 
mother soon after married Richard Stephenson, to whom 
six children were born, John, Hugh, Richard, James, Mar- 
cus and Elizabeth. The Stephenson home was a frequent 
stopping place for George Washington, during the time of 



PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 20 

his engagement as a surveyor for Lord Fairfax. Both the 
Crawford and the Stephenson boys were noted for their 
strength and agihty, and Washington often engaged in 
sport with them after the work of the day was over. The 
warm friendships of tlie boys ripened into the stronger 
friendships of the men, and were never broken, it was 
from Washington that WilHam Crawford learned the art 
of surveying, and it was also through his influence that he 
obtained a commission as Ensign in the military service ot 
Virginia, in 1755. It is commonly supposed that he was a 
member of Braddock's army. This is incorrect. His first 
trip west of the mountains was made in 1758, as an officer 
in the army of General Forbes. The western country made 
such a strong impression upon his mind that he resolved to 
make it his home. For several years he was prevented from 
carrying out his purpose by the hostile attitude of the 
Indians, but in the fall of 17(i5, when this danger had 
subsided, he came over the mountains on horse-back by way 
of the Braddock road, in company with his half-brother, 
Hugh Stephenson. When he reached the second crossings 
of the Yough, where the town of New Haven is now located, 
he was so much pleased with the fine meadow lands lying 
in the bend of the river, that he here decided to build his 
home. The two men surveyed a tract of 376^ acres, and 
put up a log cabin, mto which Crawford moved his family 
the following year. The exact time of his settlement is 
fixed by a deposition preserved in the "' Virginia State 
Papers" at Richmond, Virginia. 

"Colonjel William Crawford deposeth and saith that his hrst 
acqtiaintance with the country on the Ohio was in the year 1758, 
he then being an officer in the Virginia service. That between 
that time and the year 1765 a number of settlements were made 
on the public roads in that country by permission of the several 
commanding officers of Fort Pitt. That in the fall of the year 
1765 he made some improvements on the west side of the Alle- 
gheny Mountains ; in the spring of the year following he settled, 
and has continued to live out here ever since. That before that 
time, and in that year, a considerable number of settlements were 
made, he thinks near three hundred, without permission from any 




COr<ONEL WILLIAM CRAWFORD 
(From a portrait of doubtful authenticity.) 



PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH ol 

commanding officer; some of which settlements were made within 
the hmits of the Indiana Company's claim, and some others within 
Col. Croghan's." 

Crawford's family, at the time of his settlement, con- 
sisted of his wife (Hannah Vance) and fonr children, John, 
Sarah, Effie and Anne. The discomforts of bringing a 
family with several small children to western Pennsylvania 
in 1766 can scarcely be imagined. The road over the moun- 
tains was little better than a path and exceedingly rough 
and dangerous in places. The transportation was effected 
by means of pack-horses. As a rule the pioneer found three 
horses sufficient to carry his outfit. Little or no wooden 
furniture would be brought along, for that could be impro- 
vised on the ground. l]ed clothing, cooking utensils, agrir 
cultural implements, an ax, a rifle, a dog, two cows and 
plenty of food were the essential things. The dog served 
as a watchman, the cows furnished milk for the children 
on the way. The little caravan would move slowly, for 
mishaps were common. Every creek had to be forded, and. 
in the spring when the waters were high, this was often 
attended with considerable danger. At night the only 
shelter for the mother would be an improvised bark hut, 
and sometimes even that could not be provided. None but 
the most courageous of women would have attempted 
the journey, but Hannah Craw^ford was ecpial to it. She 
was a woman of unusual courage and vivacity, as her later 
life proves, and was able to provide for every emergency. 
The cabin prepared for their coming was an exceedingly 
humble home. It was about 14- by 16 feet in size, and con- 
tained but one room, in which the family lived and did all 
their work. It is said to have had two small openings in 
the logs, W'hich served as wdndows, one beside the door, 
overlooking the river, and the other facing the hills. The 
floor was made of split logs, dressed with the ax as smooth 
as possible ; the roof was made of rough planks. Here, 
in this humble home, the family lived during the entire time 
of Crawford's life in this comnuuiitv. Here George Wash- 



PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 



ington. Lord Dunniore. Governor of A'irginia, Doctor James 
Craik, Captain Stephen and other illustrious men were 
entertained. Here, every passing traveller found a hos- 
pitable welcome, for the heart of William Crawford was 
ever larger than his purse. It was an ideal spot for a home. 
The rich farming lands yielded an abundant supply of food. 
The forest abounded in game. One hundred and fifty 
yards away the beautiful Youghioghenv sparkled in the 
sunshine. A short distance to the north ran the old Brad- 
dock road along which travellers were constantly passing. 
The Crawfords had none of the comforts and conveniences 
of our modern life, but they lived close to nature's heart, 
and were healthy, happy and strong. Their closest neigh- 
bor was Lawrence Harrison, who brought his family from 
\^irginia and settled on Xew Haven hill, in ITlili, taking 
up four tracts of land containing l()S2^y^ acres. It is said 
that they came over the mountains with the Crawfords. 
William Harrison married ]Miss Sarah Crawford, so that 
the relations between the two families were cjuite intimate. 
John \'ance, brother of Mrs. Crawford, came out in IT 6(5 
and located in Tyrone township, not many miles distant ; 
A'alentine Crawford settled on the Westmoreland side of 
Jacobs Creek, and two of the Stephenson boys took up land 
a little farther west, so that the Crawfords were among 
their friends from the very beginning. 

One of William Crawford's chief emplovments aside 
from his farming was surveying. Having learned the art 
in \'irginia, he was now in a position where he could put 
it to good use. Seven tracts of land in Fayette county, 
containing more than two thousand acres, were surveyed 
for George Washington. One of these tracts was the 
"Great Meadows," embracing the site of Fort Necessity. 
Over sixteen hundred acres of valuable land were secured 
for him in Perry township. Crawford also surveyed several 
other tracts of land for Washington near Fort Pitt and down 
the Ohio, for all of which he was fully paid. 

In the fall of 1T70, Washington, accompanied by Doc- 




< o 



Q -3 

o a 






PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 35 

tor James Craik. came over the mountains to inspect his 
newlv acquired lands. Crawford accompanied them on 
their journey, and took pleasure in showing them the natural 
resources of the country and in entertaining them at his 
home. 

In ITTo, Lord Dunmore, Governor of X'irginia, while 
on his way to Fort Pitt, stopped at Crawford's home and 
conferred with him on matters of state. Indeed, William 
Crawford was recognized as one of the most influential men 
on the frontier. His advice was sought on all matters 
pertaining to the development of the country. His influ- 
ence in civil affairs is seen in the fact that he was appointed 
as a Justice of the Peace for Cumberland county in IT TO, 
for Bedford county in ITTl, and for Westmoreland county 
in 1T73. He was the presiding Justice of the latter county 
at the time of its erection, and would probably have held 
the position up to the time of his death if it had not been 
for his \"irginian partisanship during the Indian war of 
1TT4. In opposition to the public policy of his State, he 
espoused the cause of Lord Dunmore and led a force of 
men into the Indian country. The Pennsylvanians bitterly 
resented this disloyal act on the part of their presiding 
Justice, and, on January 2o, 1TT5, at the urgent request of 
Arthur St. Clair, he was deposed from office by Governor 
Penn, never to take up public service under the State of 
Pennsylvania again. It was the most serious mistake of 
Crawford's civil life. His military ardor and love for Vir- 
ginia overcame his good judgment. It was a characteristic 
mistake, and helps us to see the force of the man. Nature 
had endowed him with many of the highest qualities of the 
soldier. He was a born leader of men. When danger 
threatened he was c[uick to respond to the call of his fellow 
men and organize them for self-defense. The correspond- 
ence between Crawford and Washington during the summer 
of 1TT4 shows how serious the apprehensions of the settlers 
in the Yough region were at that time with respect to the 
Indians. By the assistance of several neighboring families. 



36 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

a block house was built on Crawford's land near his home. 
Another similar fort was built near the home of his brother. 
Danger was imminent. The people fled in crowds from the 
country and Crawford believed that he was only doing his 
duty in giving himself to the public defense. His military 
record, as an officer in the war of Independence, and also 
as leader of the Sandusky Expedition, is given in another 
chapter. What we have said will serve to show that Craw- 
ford the soldier was ever superior to Crawford the civilian. 
Such was his devotion to the public service that personal 
and family interests were often made to sufl:"er. He was 
compelled to borrow money from Isaac Aleason in order 
to purchase the horse on which he rode to Sandusky, and it 
is said that part of his New Haven farm was sold after his 
death in order to satisfy this claim. We do not consider 
William Crawford the paragon of virtue that he is some- 
times said to be. Neither do we attribute his military service 
on the border to an unalloyed patriotism, for his natural 
love of adventure doubtless had much to do with it. But 
he is worthy of something far higher than the criticism that 
he was a common border ruffian, who engaged in the Indian 
wars for the sake of plunder. He did not wish the leader- 
ship of the Sandusky Expedition, and accepted it only when 
convinced by General Irvine and other good men that it 
was his duty. He served his country well, and his tragic 
death at the stake, on the afternoon of June 11, 1782, was 
mourned by true patriots all over the land. 

With a presentiment of coming danger, Crawford, be- 
fore setting out on his last campaign, deeded to his son-in- 
law. Major William Harrison, a tract of sixtv-eight acres 
of land adjoining his own. Ele also made his last Will and 
Testament, in which 2900 acres of Virginia land lying along- 
the (Jhio river were bequeathed to his children and their 
descendants. The old homestead, or "Spring Garden," 
as he aff^ectionately termed it, was bequeathed to his wife 
for her lifetime, then to descend to the heirs of his son 
John Crawford, of whom two, William and Moses, are 



PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 37 

named in the will. A tract of land, lying along the old 
Braddock road two miles north of Connellsville, was given 
to his daughter Anne Connell and her children. Four 
negro slaves are also mentioned in the will. All of the Vir- 
ginians living in this vicinity in the early days were large 
slave owners. When the estate was settled, the executors 
were deluged with a flood of small claims, many of which 
were not believed to have any foundation in fact. In order 
to settle these claims the old homestead was sold, November 
27, 1786, to Edward Cook, who in turn transferred it to 
Isaac Meason, the founder of New Haven. The widow. 
however, reserved her home, where she lived until her death 
in 1817. For many years she was attended only by an old 
slave named Daniel, the most faithful servant of the Craw- 
ford family. Her remarkable vitality is attested by the fact 
that she would ride on horseback over the rough roads 
to visit her children and friends when she was more than 
eighty years of age. Her death did not come until she had 
almost reached her ninety-fifth birthday. For a while she 
was in straitened financial circumstances, and was almost re- 
duced to want. The State granted her a small pension in 
view of the military services of her husband. In November, 
180-t, a petition to Congress for her relief was denied. 

In January, 1788, John Crawford, becoming disheart- 
ened over financial matters, gave a Bill of Sale for all his 
cattle, slaves and household goods to Richard Graham, and 
removed to his western land, where he died. None of his 
children seemed to inherit the sterling qualities of their 
grandfather. Sarah Crawford, the eldest daughter of 
Colonel Crawford, was married to Major William Harrison, 
who perished in the Sandusky Expedition. Afterwards she 
married Captain Uriah Springer, and lived in a little home 
on New Haven hill, near the Brookvale school house. She 
was a great friend of children, and is still remembered affec- 
tionately by the older citizens of the community as "Granny 
Springer." She had children to both her husbands. Anne 
Crawford, the voungest daughter of the Crawford family. 



38 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNEIXSVILLE 

was married to James Connell, the brother of the fomider 
of Connellsville, and hved in Bullskin township. She had 
four children, Wilham, James, Nanc}' and Polly, who, in 
the older histories of Fayette county, are frequently con- 
fused with the children of Zachariah Connell. Effie Craw- 
ford, another of Colonel Crawford's daughters, was mar- 
ried to William McCormick, who was the first man to build 
a permanent home within the present limits of the Borough 
of Connellsville. William McCormick was a teamster, who 
came here from Winchester, Va., about the year ITTO. His 
name does not appear upon the list of settlers of Tyrone 
township in 1T<2, but this may be accounted for by the 
fact that most of his time was spent on the road and in the 
Indian trade. He was a professional packer, and drove 
six or eight horses between Baltimore and other eastern 
points and the Yough region. The early settlers made their 
farms supply them with all the necessaries of life, with the 
exception of salt, iron and spices. These had to be brought 
by pack horses from the eastern markets, and William Mc- 
Cormick was one of a number of men who found it profit- 
able employment. At first the eastern load was made up of 
peltry, secured chiefly by trading with the Indians ; later it 
was generally made of western whiskey, a keg of which 
slung to either side of the horse made a convenient burden 
and one whose purchasing power was ever sufficient to 
insure a valuable load for the return trip. Mr. McCormick, 
at an early date, took up two tracts of land designated in the 
warrants of survey as "Stafford" and "Rich Plain." Upon 
one of these, directly across the river from the Crawford 
home, a log cabin was built. In 17T6, this log cabin wa? 
replaced by what was then considered one of the finest 
homes in this section of the country. This home was built 
of hewn logs, and consisted of two large rooms, opening 
into a central passageway, all under one roof. Spacious 
fireplaces were built in each room, providing exceptional 
comforts for those early days. 

The packing industry vanished with the advent of good 



PIONEERS OE THE YOUGH 39 

roads, just as the stage coach vanished before the steam 
cars, and Mr. McCormick then turned his attention more to 
local interests. In 1795, or earlier, he built a saw mill, the 
power for which was secured from Mountz creek. ( )n 
December T, 1T9G, he sold 150^4 acres of one of his tracts 
to John Gibson for a consideration of £253. It appears that 
for a while he was in partnership with Mr. Gibson in the 
saw mill business. On Alarch 18, 1813, he deeded the 
"Stafford" tract to his son William AlcCormick, jr., but 
the validity of this deed was contested, and the estate was 
divided among nine children, as follows : Nancy, Sarah, 
Mary (Mrs. William Davies ) , John, W'illiam, Charles, Han- 
nah (Mrs. Peter Buttermore), Jane (Mrs. John Tillard), 
and Effelia. The fifth of these children, William McCor- 
mick, Jr., is the father of the larger portion of the McCor- 
mick family now residing in this community. The larger 
part of the orignal McCormick family at an early day re- 
moved to the west, and it was while visting one of his chil- 
dren in the State of Ohio, in 181(5, that William ]\lcCor- 
mick, Sr., died, at the age of 7-1 years. The place of his 
burial is not known. 

John Gibson, who purchased a portion of the McCor- 
mick tract in 179G, was the father of one of the most enter- 
prising and capable families of Connellsville. He was born 
in Chester county. Pa., in 1751. Upon coming to this part 
of the country in 1793, he was first associated with Isaac 
Meason and Aloses Dillon in building Union Furnace, said 
to have been the second blast furnace erected west of the 
Allegheny mountains. After purchasing the land in the 
north end of town, be built a grist mill near the site 
of Sodom shops, which he operated with water drawn from 
Mountz creek. He also built a small nail factory and an 
oil press, at which large c[uantities of castor oil were made 
from beans grown in the surrounding country. In 1805, 
in connection with Thomas Ashley of Philadelphia, he built 
a forge on the east bank of the river, below Mountz creek, 
which was operated successfully for twenty years. Here 




THE TWO STONE HOUSES OE THE GIBSONS. 



PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 41 

at this forge one of his sons, Joshua, was drowned, Febru- 
ary 24:, 1808. Another son, James, died in 1817. Both of 
these sons were about thirty ears of age at the time of their 
death. Mr. Gibson had three children, Thomas, Joseph and 
Ehzabeth (Mrs. Joseph Rogers). Tliomas and Joseph 
inherited much of their father's business abihty, and, in 
1816, acquired large landed interests in South Connellsville, 
and erected Etna Furnace. The ruins of the stack of this 
old furnace may yet be seen in the hollow near the foot 
of Etna street, on the South Side. The town of Gibsonville 
was laid out in 1870 by a son of Joseph Gibson. The two 
oldest stone houses now standing in Connellsville were built 
by the Gibson family, but none of their children are any 
longer numbered among our citizens. 

Another pioneer family, very closely associated with the 
Gibsons, was that of Thomas Gregg. Gregg came to New 
Haven in 1799, at the solicitation of John Gibson, his 
uncle. Here he built the first nail factory of western Penn- 
sylvania, and his old order books, still preserved by his 
daughter, show that he did a thriving business. He was of 
an inventive turn of mind, patenting a turreted warship 
that is said to have given Ericsson his first conception of 
the Monitor. He also invented other useful articles. He 
married Margaret ]\Ioore, who bore him thirteen children, 
two of whom became Methodist ministers. 

The founder of the Borough of Connellsville was Zach- 
ariah Connell, who was born in the State of Mrginia in 
1741. It is said that he first came to this part of the country 
in the fall of 1770, in company with George Washington 
and Doctor James Craik, but no reference is made to him 
in Washington's private journal. It is certain, however, that 
he was living here in 1772, and it is also quite probable that 
his former acquaintance with the Crawfords in Virginia 
directed his steps to this particular locality. For many 
years the opinion has prevailed that Mr. Connell came to 
western Pennsylvania a bachelor, and having boarded with 
the Crawfords for some time, fell in love with the Colonel's 



42 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

barefoot daughter and married her. It is a romance of the 
imagination. The very prosaic fact is that he was the 
father of a family before he ever came to this part of the 
countrv. In the assessment hsts of 1772, he is classed as a 
boarder or inmate, but this only means that he had not yet 
brought his own family from Virginia. It was no mere 
child's play to establish a home in the wilderness at that 
early dav, and Mr. Connell took his time to it. First, he 
surveyed a tract of land on the east bank of the river con- 
taining 147 acres and allowance, a tract designated as 
''Mud Island" in the warrant of survey secured several years 
later. Then he built for himself a humble cabin home on 
the river bank near where the Trans-Allegheny Hotel now 
stands, in which he lived all the rest of his davs, his stone 
house on West Fairview avenue not being completed until 
a few weeks after his death. After the building of the cabin 
came the task of clearing the farm, which involved the hard- 
est kind of work. The southern hills were covered with the 
finest of oak and poplar timber ; the hill on the north side 
above the Baltimore and Ohio depot was heavily overgrown 
with laurel ; the level land in the vicinity of the Pennsylvania 
depot was a deep morass, several acres in extent, fed bv 
a number of vigorous springs, the largest of which flowed 
out of the ground near Brimstone Corner. This great 
swamp was covered by scrub timber, heavy undergrowth 
and matted vines. John Reist, a German Mennonite settler 
and a neighbor of the Connells, once lost himself in it while 
in search of a cow, and only extricated himself after con- 
siderable effort. In due time Mr. Connell established his 
family in their new home. With them came two younger 
brothers, Thomas and James, and a sister, who married 
Reazon Reagan. One of these brothers, known in the fam- 
ily history as James Connell, Sr., married Miss Anne Craw- 
ford, and it is this marriage that has been so often confused 
with that of Zachariah Connell. James Connell, Sr., had 
four children — William, James, Jr., ATancy and Pollv. 
Zachariah Connell had six children bv his first mariaee — 




MVP Ol" MUD ISLAND AND VICINITY. 



4-i CENTENNIAr. HISTORY OF CON NELLS VILLE 

Hiram, John Rice, Rebeca (Mrs. Greenberry R. Jones), 
Hettie (Mrs. Samuel Black), Nancy (Mrs. Joseph Hol- 
lingsworth). and Mariah (Mrs. William Page); and two 
children by his second marriage — Margaret Rice (Mrs. John 
Wesley Phillips), and Eliza (Mrs. D. Howell Phillips). 
The first wife of Zachariah Connell was ^liss Rebecca Rice, 
who was born in Virginia in IT-Jl, and died in Connellsville 
in October, 1805 ; the second wife, whom he married May 
10, 1807, was Miss Margaret Wallace, who died in Con- 
nellsville June 30. 1845, in her seventy-sixth year. The 
Wallace family were also Virginians and well acquainted 
with George Washington. Margaret was ever fond of tell- 
ing how the great man complimented her when, as a young 
girl, she served him with a drink of cool water drawn from 
the Wallace spring in a gourd. For many years "Aunt 
Jennie" Wallace, a sister of Margaret, was the toll-keeper 
on the old Yough bridge. 

Zachariah Connell, like his friend William Crawford, 
was a surveyor and a man of wide influence among the early 
settlers. Under his superintendence, many of the original 
surveys for the surounding country were made. In the 
list of surveys made by Alexander McLean, a copy of which 
is given on another page, the Connell family is credited 
with 2569^ acres. Three farms embracing 9G4j4 acres 
are credited to Zachariah Connell, and two farms embracing 
819 acres are credited to his two sons. These lands do not 
include several other valuable tracts that were purchased 
by Mr. Connell at a later date. A portion of the Connell 
land bordering on the river was claimed by David Lindsay, 
a blacksmith who settled in this vicinity at an early day, 
but the claim was amicably adjusted in 1T87, when Mr. 
Connell, by the payment of £150, secured undisputed pos- 
session. 

Zachariah Connell was interested not only in the care 
of his own land, but also in looking after the estates of 
others. He served as the local agent of Governor Dinwiddle 
of Virginia, Howard of Maryland, and the Chew familv of 















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BILL OF SURVEYS RENDERED BY ALEXANDER McEEAN. 



46 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Gerniantown, J 'a. The holdings of nenjaniin Chew in Bed- 
ford and Fayette counties at one time amounted to more 
than one hundred thousand acres, and the care of all this 
vast estate was entrusted to ^ir. Connell. He was a man 
of considerable intellectual ability, gifted with splendid busi- 
ness judgment, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of 
all his fellow citizens. Even the eccentricities of his char- 
acter, of which earlier writers speak, when closely exam- 
ined are found to rest upon basic virtues which draw from 
us increasing" admiration. He was called eccentric because 
he was never registered as a voter of the Borough, flis 
refusal to vote, however, was due not to any lack of interest 
in public afifairs, but to his desire that the citizens of the 
town might feel free to govern themselves without any 
interference on his part. He was called eccentric because 
of his belief in total abstinence. He lived in a day when 
whiskey sold for twenty-five cents a gallon, when it was 
freely imbibed by all classes of people, and when even the 
storekeepers found it necessary to keep a good supply on 
hand in order to build up their trade. jNIr. Connell refused 
to touch, taste or handle it, and was denounced as a crank. 
On one occasion the subject of temperance was brought up 
in the local Methodist church, of which he was a devout 
member. Several members took the ground that whiskey 
was a good thing in its place, and Mr. Connell admitted the 
proposition, but affirmed that its only proper place was "in 
the rye." It was the custom of those days to furnish free 
whiskey to the harvest hands. Mr. Connell would never 
agree to this, and cheerfully paid his men fiftv cents a day 
more than the usual wages in order to secure their services. 
He was also called eccentric because he lived all his life in 
a humble home. This, however, cannot be charged to miser- 
liness, for his public benefactions are without a parallel in 
local history. The site of the old Market House, the spa- 
cious grounds of the City Hall, the High School and the 
Carnegie Library are all the gifts of his generous hand. 

It is to the generosity of Zachariah Connell that we are 




THE STONE HOUSE OF ZACHARIAH CONNEIvI-. 



48 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSMLLE 

indebted for the ven' founding of our city. When emi- 
grants, coming over the mountains by way of Turkey Foot, 
arrived at the Connell farm, its owner very generously gave 
them the privilege of building their rafts here, on which to 
lioat their goods down the river, and the ever-increasing 
number of these emigrants, who availed themselves of this 
privilege, opened the eyes of Mr. Connell to the fact that his 
farm was the natural site for a future city. Accordingly 
a town of 180 quarter-acre lots was surveyed, and a charter 
secured for the same bearing date of March 21, 17 93. This 
charter, recorded in Deed Book C of the Fayette county 
records, is as follows : 

CHARTER OF THE BOROUGH OF CONNELLSVILLE. 

Zachariah Connell, proprietor of the tract of land situate on 
the East side of Youghiogheni River, where the State Road from the 
north fork of Turkey Foot intersects said river. To all to whom 
these presents shall come sendeth Greeting, Whereas it is necessary 
that some provision be made at the place aforesaid for the reception 
and entertainment of Travelers, and as well to accommodate sucli 
Tradesmen and others inclining to settle at or near said place, for 
their encouragement and better regulation. Has laid out a small 
Town at the aforesaid place by the name of Connellsville, agreeably 
to the plan hereunto annexed. And the said Zachariah Connell, 
for himself, liis heirs, and assigns, doth grant that the streets and 
alleys of the said town shall forever continue as they are now laid 
out and regulated by the plans aforesaid, viz. : Spring Street or 
State Road, sixty feet wide, and all the other streets forty feet wide, 
and Alleys twenty feet wide, and that the space left opposite the 
ferry and fronting on said River, as represented, in the plan and 
distinguished by public ground, and Water Street, shall be and con- 
tinue free for the use of the Inhabitants of said Town, and for 
Travelers who may erect thereon temporary boat-yards, or may 
from time to time occupy' the same or any part thereof for making 
any vessels or other Conveniences for the purpose of conveying 
their property to or from said Town. And the said Zachariah Con- 
nell doth further promise and Covenant with the Inhabitants of said 
Town and others who choose to frequent the same, that all land- 
ings, harbours or other conveniences and advantages of said River 
opposite said town or adjoining Water Street aforesaid shall be 
free to them at all times for the purpose of landing Timber, Stone, 
or other materials for building, or for the use of lading Vessels for 








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THE ORIGINAL PLAN OF THE BOROUGH. 



50 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



removal of their persons or property to any place whatever. But 
the said Zachariah Connell reserves to himself, his heirs, and assigns 
all that piece of Land situate between Water Street and the River, 
and extending from Rogers Mills down to Spring Street or State 
Road, Provided always that none of said town or others shall at 
any time erect a ferry-boat for public use, or Keep and maintain a 
Canoe or other Vessel for the purpose of conveying any person or 
persons, thing or things, across said River other than their own 
families or their own property. And providing also as the privilege 
is joint, that no person or persons. Company or Companies, shall at 
any time or times hereafter occupy more of the margin of said 
River for the purpose aforesaid than is absolutely necessary, accord- 
ing to the various changes and circumstances of the case, to the 
end that all foreigners as well as Citizens may be equally or pro- 
portionately advantaged thereby as their necessity require. 

And, whereas, there is near said Town, on the verge of said river 
an excellent Stone Coal Bank from which coal may be conveniently 
conveyed by water along all the front of said Town, and also a Stone 
Quarry, where stone may be got for building, and the said Zachariah 
Connell being desirous of giving all the encouragement and advan- 
tages that the nature of the case will admit of, consistent with his 
own interest and safety, doth hereby grant unto the inhabitants of 
said Town, their heirs, and assigns forever, the free and full privilege 
of digging and removing, from said Stone Coal Bank and Stone 
Quarry to their habitation or place of abode within said town only 
any quantity of Coal and Stone necessary for their own particular 
use. And the said Zachariah Connell doth hereby grant to be sur- 
veyed and laid out for the use of the Inhabitants of said town the 
timber and stone on one hundred acres of land adjacent thereto for 
building, &c. And whereas there are sundry springs within the lim- 
its aforesaid, and the said Zachariah Connell being desirous that as 
many of the Inhabitants of said Town as possible ma}' receive 
mutual advantages therefrom, doth give and grant unto the inhabit- 
ants of said town, and others traveling through said town, the com- 
mon use and benefit of said springs, to be by them conveyed or 
conducted through all and every part of said town at their pleasure 
for their mutual convenience and advantage, reserving, nevertheless, 
to the owner of Lots out of which the fountain issues the full privi- 
lege of erecting any house or other convenience at the head of said 
spring, so as not to prevent the other inhabitants from free access 
thereto at all times. And provided the said house or other conveni- 
ence will and shall not have a tendency to disturb or affect the water 
flowing from said spring so as to render it disagreeable to the other 
inhabitants. And provided also that by said building or other con- 
venience the Inhabitants shall not be prevented from having access 
to the fountain for sinking Pipes or conduits for the conveying of 
the water aforesaid and screening or securing the same from filth 
or other injury, and Whereas it is the desire of the said Zachariah 



PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 51 



Coimell that the inhabitants of said town should be accommodated 
with a commodious seat whereon to erect a house or houses for 
pubhc worship and school or schools, he for that purpose alone 
appropriates the Lots Nos. 88 and 96 on said plan for said purpose, 
free and clear of purchase money or ground rent, forever to the 
inhabitants of said town, their heirs, and successors, to be held 
in common for the purpose aforesaid, or jointly, as the inhabitants 
may choose, and also a sufficient quantity of suitable ground con- 
venient thereto, and not included in the said Town, or in the one 
hundred acres aforesaid, not exceeding an acre, for the purpose 
of a Grave Yard. And to prevent a misunderstanding of the grant 
made of the timber and stone on the hundred acres aforesaid, the 
said Zachariah Connell hereby declares that the said Timber and 
Stone shall be removed or prepared for removal before the sale 
of the land whereon it may be. Provided always that the said 
Zachariah Connell hereby reserves to himself, his heirs, or assigns, 
the purchase money for each and every Lot so laid off for sale, 
and an annual ground rent of half a dollar for each Lot, the 
ground rent to be paid to the said Zachariah Connell, his heirs, 
and assigns, at the town aforesaid, on the first day of May in each 
and every year forever, and the said Zachariah doth hereby coven- 
ant with the inhabitants of said town that all moneys that shall 
become due and owing unto him for ground-rents for the space 
of four years from the date hereof to be applied to raising a meet- 
ing house or meeting houses, and School or School Houses on 
the aforesaid lots appropriated to that use. And whereas in length 
of time it may be convenient for some of the inhabitants of said 
town to have outlots for pasture, the said Zachariah Connell doth 
hereby grant to be surveyed and laid out for the use of the inhabi- 
tants of said town the one hundred acres of Land above mentioned 
adjacent to said Town, in Lots of not less than one acre nor 
exceeding four acres each, subject to such purchase money as 
the parties may agree upon. 

In witness whereof the said Zachariah Connell has hereunto 
set his hand and affixed his Seal, the twenty-first day of March, 
in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety- 
three. 

ZACHARL\H CONNELL. 

(Seal.) 

Sealed and delivered in the presence of 

JONATHAN ROWLAND, 
ALEXANDER McLEAN. 
Fayette County, ss. : 

The sixth day of January, Anno Domino, 1800, Before me 
the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said 
County, personally came Zachariah Connell and acknowledged the 
foregoing Instrument of writing to be his Act and deed. 

JONATHAN ROWLAND. 



52 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

The original copy of this charter is now in the posses- 
sion of Harry C. Norton, of Connellsville. It is said upon 
good authority that the framer of this historic document 
was Doctor James Francis, the pioneer physician of Con- 
nellsville, who came to this vicinity first about the year 1790. 
He was engaged in the practice of medicine along the Mo- 
nongahela river, giving special attention to the emigrant 
camps for some time previous to this. Upon first coming 
to Connellsville he made his home in an old log house on 
Water street, near the home of Zachariah Connell. He was 
a warm personal friend of Mr. Connell, a man of high lit- 
erary tastes, a successful practitioner and an eminent and 
influential citizen. He married the widow of Doctor Thomas 
Pierce, and went to housekeeping on East Main street. 
From here they moved farther up the hill to the bend of 
the street, where he died in the year IS^tO. He was the 
father of three children — John, Jane (Mrs. Dorsey), and 
Mary (Mrs. Knox), all of whom died of tubercular trou- 
ble at an early age. 

The Borough of Connellsville, as originally platted, 
contained 180 quarter-acre lots and formed almost a per- 
fect square. Its extreme boundaries were — North alley. 
East alley. South alley and the river. The first sale of lots, 
of which we have any record, took place in 1795, and the 
purchasers were — Thomas Rogers, George Livingston, 
George Lamb, Asa Dudley, Michael Senniff, Morris Mor- 
ris and Patrick Meligan. The price of the lots, regardless 
of location was £3 specie and an annual ground-rent of 
half a dollar. In the later deeds the ground-rent clause 
is omitted. Other purchasers of Connellsville lots prior to 
1806 were Michael Aultman, Melchoir Endley, Thomas 
Gibson, John Lewis, Daniel Bowers, James Rowland, 
Nicholas Johnson. Frederic Bollard, John Woodruff, An- 
thony Banning, Daniel Rogers, Henry Fox, Charles Wells, 
Benjamin Wells, Joseph Page, James Blackstone Jr., Joshua 
Lobdill, Samuel Trevor, Caleb Trevor, William Stewart, 
John Barnhart, Caleb Squibb, Isaac Mears, James Francis, 



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AUTOGRAPHS OF PIONEERS. 



54 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

James Irons, Timothy Hankins, John Fidlar, Matthew 
Thom, Charles Wihiams, George Mathiot and George 
Swartz. Many of these original purchasers were only 
speculators who never made Connellsville their home, but 
their investment was a good one, for the most desirable lots 
trebled in value within the first ten years. Mr. Connell 
sold lot 61 to James Irons in 1801 for $58.00, and lot 
103 to Matthew Thom in 1803 for $48.00. The choice 
locations seem to have been those on Water and Spring 
streets. Main street was known as Spring street in early 
days, because of a fine large spring located just a short 
distance east of the Colonial Bank. For many 3^ears the 
waters of this spring were piped out to the road and slaked 
the thirst of both man and beast. It is to this spring in 
particular that reference is made in the town charter. Its 
waters now flow quietly into the public sewer, and few of 
our citizens are aware of its location. 

On June 6, 1795, a change was made in the propri- 
etorship of Connellsville to which no reference has ever 
heretofore been made in any local history. On that date, 
Zachariah Connell sold the entire "Mud Island" tract, in- 
cluding the ferry and all the unsold lots of the Borough, 
to Benjamin Chew, Jr., of the City of Philadelphia. Mr. 
Chew at once appointed Samuel Trevor and John Rice 
Connell as his local agents, and the original letter of in- 
structions is still preserved among the papers of the Con- 
nell family. This arrangement remained in force until 
October 25, 1798, when Mr. Chew made a return deed of 
the property to Mr. Connell. It is much to be regretted 
that no picture or silhouette of the founder of Connells- 
ville was ever taken. The picture given in tlie Centennial 
Souvenir Program as his was spurious. He is described as 
a typical Scotch Sandy with red hair, brown e3^es and a 
florid complexion, about five feet, nine inches tall, straight 
as a popular, strong and muscular and possessed of a con- 
stitution that could endure the severest hardship. He died 
in his Water street home, August 2G, 1813, and was buried 



PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH 55 

in the little family grave plot on East Francis avenue hill. 
His last Will and Testament, made a few weeks before his 
death, is given herewith. 

ZACHARIAH CONNELL'S WILL 

In the name of Almightj^ God, Amen. I, Zachariah Connell> 
of the town of Connellsville, being deeply impressed with the 
uncertaint}' of life, have made this my last Will and Testament. 
I give to my wife, Peggy, the new stone house that I am now 
building (which is to be finished out of my monej') to live in 
during her widowhood, and one third part of my estate during 
her natural life ; after her disease to be divided equally between , 
mj' two youngest daughters, Peggy and Eliza. I give to my 
daughter, Hetty Black, five hundred dollars, to be deposited in 
the hands of my executors, to be appropriated to her personal 
benefit in that way which they in their judgment shall think most 
proper. I give to my four grandsons, Zachariah, Samuel, William 
and John Black all that tract of land tying situate in Ohio State, 
whereon my daughter Hetty Black now lives, to be equally divided 
among them. I give to m}* son John Connell the debt which he 
now owes me on a book account. I wish all my debts to be punc- 
tually paid. After my debts and the above legacies are paid, my 
desire is that the balance of my estate, whatever it may be, should 
be equally divided between my other six children (leaving out 
John and Hetty) one sixth part to each. And I appoint my son, 
Hiram Connell, William Page and Greenbery R. Jones, executors 
of this, my last Will and Testament. And I do hereby revoke and 
cancel all Wills by me heretofore made, and do by these presents 
acknowledge this my last Will and Testament. Signed this 2nd 
day of August in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and 
thirteen. 



ZACHARIAH CONNELL. 



(Seal.) 



Signed, sealed and acknowledged in presence of 

DANIEL ROGERS, 
JOHN PAGE. 

Soon after his death, all of Zachariah Connell's 
first children except Hiram had removed to Ohio. 
The widow, with her two little daughters, Margaret 
and Eliza, removed to the stone house becjueathed 
to her by her husband, where the girls grew up 
to womanhood and married the Phillips brothers of 



56 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Uniontown. John Wesley Phillips, the husband of 
Margaret, bought out the local interests of all the 
other Connell heirs, built a brick house near the stone 
dwelling and carried on cabinet making here for a num- 
ber of years. He was a partner with Isaac Meason, Jr., 
in the Yough Bridge Company, and, in 184G, was elected 
a member of the House of Representatives. His children 
were Charles W. Phillips, Indianapolis, Ind., Zachariah 
Connell Phillips, Uniontown, Pa., Mrs. Eliza Jane Darling- 
ton, Los Angeles, Cal., and Wesley H. Phillips, Mrs. Ella 
Whitmore and Mrs. M. Alice French of San Diego, Cal. 
The two branches of Zachariah Connell's family were re- 
united in the far west when Carey R. Darlington, the great 
grandson of Rebecca Connell was married to Eliza Jane 
Phillips the grand daughter of Margaret Connell. 

Among the more influential citizens of Connellsville, 
prior to 1806, in addition to those whose names have been 
mentioned, were Daniel Rogers, George Mathiot, Samuel 
and Caleb Trevor, Benjamin Wells, David Barnes, Anthony 
Mansfield, Banning and Joseph Page, Sr. - Joseph Page, 
Sr., was a Jersey man, who came to Connehsville in 1801, 
and, on October 26th of that year, purchased the "Confi- 
dence" tract of 302 acres from Zachariah Connell for £536. 
This tract was located along the river immediately south 
of the "Alud Island" tract, and embraced the larger part 
of the ground now occupied by the Baltimore and Ohio 
yards. At the upper end of this tract he erected a mill, the 
race for which was more than a quarter of a mile in length. 
Mr. Page was the father of seven children — Jonathan, John, 
Samuel, Joseph Jr., William, Rebecca and Mary. Jona- 
than Page was a shoemaker and lived and died in the old 
stone house on Meadow alley. Samuel Page purchased the 
old homestead in 1814, but sold it a few years later to 
the Gibsons, bought the old Banning property on Water 
street and lived there for a number of years. He also kept 
the old stone tavern on East Main street. William Page 
became a Methodist minister, married a daughter of Zach- 



58 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

ariali Connell and removed to Ohio. Joseph Page, Jr., 
hved and died in New Jersey. j\Iiss Rebecca Page mar- 
ried D. S. Knox, and became the mother of Senator Phil- 
ander C. Knox. 

Anthony Mansfield Banning was the pioneer Methodist 
preacher of this vicinity. He was born in Maryland, in 
1768, and ran away from home at sixteen years of age, after 
he had been converted at a Methodist camp-meeting and 
felt called to preach. Upon coming to Fayette county in 

1786, he located in the Alount Braddock settlement, but 
came to Connellsville quite frequently and conducted expe- 
rience meetings in the home of Zachariah Connell. For a 
number of years he preached here and at other points 
throughout the country, but conducted a tannery and a 
tavern at the same time, not deeming either business incon- 
sistent with his high calling. He married Miss Sarah Mur- 
phy and was the father of eight children. In 1810 he re- 
moved to Mount Vernon, Ohio. His family has reflected 
great honor upon their father's home. 

David Barnes purchased property in Connellsville in 
1803, and in 1803 moved from Irishtown, near Breakneck 
Furnace, and opened a tavern. He was one of the most 
useful men in the community, and did much to develop 
its resources. 

Benjamin Wells and the Trevor brothers were the 
first merchants of the town. Their public record is given 
in another chapter. 

George Mathiot was one of the most conspicuous fig- 
ures in the early history of the Borough because of his 
long service as Justice of the Peace. He was born in Lan- 
caster county. Pa., October 13, 1760. On October 3(), 

1787, he was married to Miss Ruth Davies at Elk Ridge, 
Maryland, went to Ellicott's Mills, and from there came 
to Connellsville in a wagon, camping and sleeping in a tent, 
arriving here July 12, 1796. In 1800, he was commissioned 
by Governor Thomas McKean as Justice of the Peace, a 
position that he filled with much credit until compelled b}' 




TWO OI,D LOG HOUSES OF THE PINNACLE. 



■60 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

the infirmities of age to resign. In 1802 lie purchased 
property on West ]\Iain street, where he Hved to the day 
of his death, April 4, 1840. Mr. Mathiot was of French 
Huguenot parentage, and demonstrated his good blood by 
enlisting in the patriot army, November 18, 1776, and serv- 
ing to the close of the war. He was an ardent Methodist, 
and his home was usually the stopping place of all the 
itinerant preachers of his day. Mrs. Mathiot was a 
Quakeress and a woman of rare character. Eleven chil- 
dren were born to them — Jacob D., Eliza, Catherine, Mary, 
Joshua D., Cassandra. John, Susan, Ann AL, George E., 
and Henry B. Some of these children had distinguished 
careers in other parts of the country. So far as we can 
learn, none of their descendants are now living in this 
community. 

Daniel Rogers, the first Burgess of Connellsville, comes 
from an interesting pioneer family. This family came to 
Dunbar township about the year 1768 and took up con- 
siderable land by "tomahawk right." Becoming dissatis- 
fied for some reason with their location, they moved west 
of the Monongahela river, but, after severe conflicts with 
the Indians, in which three of the men lost their lives, 
retiu'ued to this part of the country and settled in the Cross 
Keys district. This district received its name from the 
fact that one of the Rogers brothers was a smith, who 
set up a large pair of crossed keys over his shop door as 
his professional sign, and when he opened his house called 
it the Cross Keys Tavern. Daniel Rogers, son of James 
Rogers was born in this district, June 8, 1778. He may be 
called a child of Connellsville for his whole life was spent 
either in the town or its immediate vicinity. When he was 
yet quite a voung man he built a grist mill on the old island 
above the bridge, which, for many years, was one of the 
most important industries of the town. Disposing of his 
mill to the Pages he embarked in the mercantile business 
on Water street. In 1806, he built the brick house on the 
■corner of W^ater and West Main streets, and here he con- 



PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH (>I 



ducted a general store for a number of years. This is the 
oldest house now standing in the Borough, and is in a 
fair state of preservation. In 1810. he was interested in 
the building of a paper mill on the Yough above Connells- 
ville. He was also engaged in the cattle business and em- 
ployed a great company of boys every summer at 12>4 
cents a day to make hay for his cattle. He was rather 
an eccentric individual, but clever and influential in public 
affairs. He married Miss Mary Meason, a daughter of 
Colonel Isaac Meason, and was the father of two children- 
Catherine (Mrs. Banning) and Thomas. The declining 
years of his life were spent in New Haven, where he died, 
September TS, 1872, at the ripe old age of 94 years. His 
body lies at rest in the little cemetery on New Haven hill. 
Another pioneer, who deserves more than a passing 
notice here in view of the fact that more than one thou- 
sand of his descendants are now residents of Connellsville 
and vicinity, was Peter Stillwaggen Sr. ^Ir. Stillwaggen 
was born in Germany, and came to America about the year 
17G5. In IT 75 he was married to ^liss Elizabeth Poole in 
the German Lutheran church of Philadelphia, Pa. In July 
of the following year, he enlisted in the patriot army as 
Sergeant of a company commanded by Captain Holmes., 
He was also a member of the Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment. 
He took part in the battles of Colts Neck, Brandywine, Ger- 
mantown, Trenton, ]\Ionmouth and Eatontown. While out 
on an expedition near Eatontown he was captured by the 
British and confined in an old sugar house in New York 
for nearly two vears. During his absence, his home was 
plundered bv the British troops, and his wife so mistreated 
that she applied to General Firman for relief, who gave 
her a home with the wife of Captain Huddy. Just before ^-^ 

the battle of Trenton, a company of Tories, commanded ^ 

by. Captain David Smith, again visited the Stillwaggen ^• 

home, plundering it of all its remaining valuables and burn- : \\ 
ing it to the ground. ^Irs. Stillwaggen, hearing of their 
coming, hid with her two little children in an adjoining 



c4. 



>^. 



"-^ 



'G2 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

field, and watched in anguish while the work of destruc- 
tion was carried on. She then once more sought refuge 
in the camp with her husband. The commanding officer 
treated her kindly and allowed her to stay. She made 
herself useful by washing and baking for the soldiers and 
caring for the sick and wounded. At the battle of ]\Ion- 
mouth she distinguished herself by her courage, and car- 
ried ammunition for the artillery. By some she is believed 
to be the Molly Pitcher of historic fame. At the close of the 
war, Peter Stillwaggen received an honorable discharge 
and settled with his family at Deckertown, N. J. He was the 
father of thirteen children — Daniel, Hannah, William, 
Sarah Ann, Mary, Catherine, Andrew, Peter Jr., Susannah, 
Josiah Decker, Andrew Poole, Henry and John. In 1802 
he came to Connellsville, and established a home in the 
neighborhood of Peach and Water streets. The children 
at this time numbered but nine, four of them having died. 
By a mere chance of fortune. Captain David Smith, their 
old Tory enemy, also came to Connellsville after the war, 
living with his son Asher Smith, on the corner of Cottage 
•avenue and East Main street, and it is said upon good au- 
thority that some of the plunder of the Stillwaggen home 
was afterwards discovered there in an old chest. Wil- 
liam, the oldest son of the family, was married to Miss 
Margaret Wilson of Deckertown, and had eleven children — ■ 
Peter (husband of Margaret White), Joshua, Sophia, Eliza, 
(I\Irs. Stephen Robbins), Josiah Decker (husband of 
Elizabeth Eicher), Sarah (Mrs. Josiah Marietta, mother 
of the large Marietta family of Connellsville), Henry 
Nash (husband of Mary M. Curry), Joseph, Mary, John 
(husband of Elizabeth Stoufifer) and William Wilson (hus- 
band of Maria AI. Rockwell). William Stillwaggen inheri- 
ted much of the patriotic fire of his parents and was a 
veteran of the war of 1812. Sarah Ann, his sister, mar- 
ried Henry Nash, a Methodist minister and moved to Ten- 
nessee. Another sister married Mr. Haven, an Englishman, 
and lived and died in Connellsville. Among her grand chil- 



PIONEERS OF THE YOUGH G^J 

dren were Mrs. Anne Robbins (deceased), Mrs. Eliza 
Newcomer (deceased), Mrs. Mary Enos and Mrs. Kate 
Kurtz. Henry Nash Stillwaggen, son of William was a 
soldier in the Mexican war, and received an injury while 
building" a bridge for the artillery before Vera Cruz from 
which he never fully recovered. John Stillwaggen, son of 
Peter Stillwaggen Sr., died without issue at Broad Ford. 
Andrew Poole Stillwaggen, another son, married Miss 
Catherine Buttermore and removed to the west; Catherine 
Stillwaggen, a daughter, married a Mr. Conklin and died 
at the early age of 22 leaving two children, Daniel and 
William : another daughter married a Air. Polk and re- 
moved to Tennessee ; of the families of the remaining chil- 
dren we have no definite knowledge. Peter Stillwaggen 
Sr., died in Connellsville in December, 1831 ; his wife, Eliz- 
abeth, with a marvelous vitality, lived to be one hundred 
and fifteen years of age. Even at that advanced age she 
was remarkablv active and able to attend to many of her 
household duties. One Monday afternoon she was left at 
home alone, and her grandson, on his return, found the 
interior of the house on fire. Securing help he put out the 
flames as quickly as possible, but his grandmother was then 
already dead. It is believed that she was smoking a pipe 
and that sparks from this set her clothing on fire. 

At the close of the period of which this chapter treats, 
January 1, 180G, it was scarcely possible to discern more 
than a feeble outline of the present town of Connellsville. 
On Water street there were eight log houses, owned bj 
Thomas Page, Zachariah Connell, John Gibson. Joseph 
Rogers, Benjamin Wells, Jonathan Moody, David Stewart 
and Peter Stillwaggen. On South ]\Ieadow alley there was 
a stone house and the Banning tannery. On South Pitts- 
burgh street there was an empty log house and Jonas Coal- 
stock's blacksmith shop. On Main street, from the river 
to the top of the hill, there eight log houses, occupied by 
Squire Mathiot, Samuel Trevor, EHjah Crossland (butcher 
and plow maker) Charles Williams (blacksmith) James 



64 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Nixon (store keeper) John Hinebaugii (blacksmith), Jesse 
Taylor ( stone mason ) , and E. Clayton. On the same streei 
there were four log taverns, kept by David Barnes, John 
Barnhart, Thomas Keepers and Cornelius Woodruff ; a 
stone house occupied by ()tho Williams, a hatter, and the 
frame residences of Doctor James Francis, Adam Snider, 
Cornelius Woodruff Jr., and Wihiam Davis. All of Main 
street from Meadow alley to Mountain alley, on the north 
side, was unoccupied by a building of any kind. On the 
pinnacle, above the bend of the street, there were four 
or live scattered dwellings, one of which was a tavern kept 
by Nancy White. All told, there were not more than thirty- 
six buildings of any kind within the Borough limits at the 
time of its incorporation. Yet her citizens seem to have 
had great faith in her future. They were not satisfied to 
include only the chartered Borough within the limits of the 
corporation, but included the entire tract of 152 acres. How 
well the work of their children has justified their faith will 
be told in the succeeding chapters. 



CHAPTER II. 

THE INCORPORATION OF THE BOROUGH. 

One hundred years ago our fathers asserted for them- 
selves a separate place and a proper name that marked them 
apart from the rest of the world. If we have lost some- 
thing of the odor of the forest, the simplicity of the rocks 
and the uncultivated air of the backwoodsman, in its place 
we have much of the culture, the comfort and the industry 
of a modern civilization. Xature has been lavish in her 
gifts to this immediate locality. Scarcely can there be 
found a stream of water so clear, so pure, so beautiful 
and with such a wide variety of scenery as the "Dare-Devil 
Yough." The mountains and the river seem lo vie with 
one another in producing scenes of the rarest loveliness. 
Yet to this wealth of natural beauty is added the charm 
of a mild climate and an almost incredible mineral wealth. 
Such is the happy situation of Connellsville, about fifty-eight 
miles east of Pittsburg. 

It received its name from Zachariah Council , its 
founder and one of the earliest settlers in this region. It 
had been chartered as a town for more than twelve years 
before its citizens were impressed with the necessity of a 
Borough government for their proper development and pro- 
tection. Some of these men were wise enough to see that 
inasmuch as their town was situated at the head of naviga- 
tion on the Yough it possessed many of the natural advant- 
ages of a thriving city. At the time of the incorporation 
of the Borough a number of its citizens were wholly en- 
gaged in the construction of boats and rafts on which emi- 
grants flocited their goods down the river on their way to 
Kentuckv and Ohio. Their very occupation was a proph- 
ecv of the citv that was sure to come. 



GC) CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSYILLE 

The first step to organize the Borough of Connellsville 
was taken January 1st, 1806. A preHminary meeting was 
held to estabhsh the boundaries of the proposed new bor- 
ough. The following account of this meeting was found 
in the old house of Joseph Herbert, on ]\Iain Street : 

"At a meeting of the inhabitants of Connellsville pursuant to 
notice, held at the House of John Barnhart on the first day of 
January, 1S06, it was agreed that the lines to include the contem- 
plated corporation shall begin at the mouth of the Run, where it 
empties, into Joseph Page's saw mill race, and the further bounds of 
the Corporation to be ran under the direction of the following seven 
persons : Anthony Banning, Samuel Trevor, John Barnhart, George 
Mathiot, David Barnes, James Blackstone and Daniel Rogers." 

"It is further agreed that the five following persons shall be a 
Committee to draft a petition to the Assembly, and the Bill for 
the Incorporation of the Borough to be submitted to the Inhabitants 
at a meeting to be held at this House, on Tuesday evening next, 
viz; Samuel Trevor, Daniel Rogers, Doct. James Francis, Isaac 
Meason, Jun., Esqr. and Isaac Mears. 

Witness our hands" 

JESSE TAYLOR, JOSEPH PAGE, Sen'r., 

MICHAEL BRYON, DAVID BARNES, 

CHARLES WILLIAMS, CHARLES WELLS, 

BENJAMIN WELLS, WILLIAM TIPTON. 

On the following Tuesday evening, the Bill for the 
Incorporation of the Borough was submitted to the peo- 
ple and endorsed bv them. It is generally conceded that 
this Bill was drawn by Doctor James Francis, the first 
physician who practiced medicine in this locality. 

This Bill of Incorporation became a law by the Act 
of Assembly passed March 1st, 180G. 

AN ACT. 

To erect the town of Connellsville, in Fayette County, 
into a Borough. P. L. 391. 

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- 
resentatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General 
Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the 
same, That the town of Connellsville, and its vicinity in the County 
of Fayette, shall be and the same is hereby erected into a borough, 




THE BOROUGH OF 1806 



68 CENiENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLS\ILLE 

which shall be called "The Borough of Connellsville," bounded and 
limited as follows : That is to say, beginning at a place known 
by the appelation of "Gregg's Butment," on the West side of the 
Youghiogheny River ; thence in a direct line across said river to a 
sycamore near the mouth of Connell saw mill run ; thence south 
eighty-tive degrees east eighty-six perches to a stump ; thence north 
forty-nine and a half degrees east sixty-four perches ; thence north 
twenty-seven degrees east one hundred and twelve perches ; thence 
north forty-six degrees west nineteen and five-tenth perches ; 
thence south thirty-three degrees west twenty perches ; thence north 
fiftj'-seven degrees twenty-six perches ; thence south eighty degrees 
west one hundred and sixty-eight perches to the river ; thence 
following tne last said coiu'se across the ri^er to low water mark ; 
thence up said river, following its different meanders to the place 
of beginning. 

SECTION 2. And be it further enacted by the authority 
aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful for all persons entitled 
to vote for members of the Legislature, who have resided in said 
borough twelve months previously to such election, to meet at the 
school house in said borough (or at such other place as may here- 
after be appointed), on the first Monday in April in every year, 
and then and there elect by ballot, between the hours of twelve 
and six o'clock of the same day, one reputable citizen residing 
therein, who shall be styled "The Burgess of the said borough," 
and seven reputable citizens residing therein, who shall be a Town 
Council, and shall also elect as aforesaid one reputable citizen as 
High Constable; but previously to such election the inhabitants 
shall elect two reputable citizens as Judges, one as Inspector and 
two as Clerks of said election, which shall be regulated and con- 
ducted according to the general election law of this Commonwealth, 
so far as relates to receiving and counting votes, and who shall 
be subject to the same penalties for malpractices as by the said 
law is imposed ; and the said Judges, Inspectors and Clerks, re- 
spectively, before they enter upon the duties of their offices, shall 
take an oath or affirmation before any Justice of the Peace of 
said County, to perform the same with fidelity; and after the 
said election shall be closed shall declare the person having the 
greatest number of votes to be duly elected ; and in case any two 
or more candidates shall have an equal number of votes, the pref- 
erence shall be determined by lot, to be drawn by the Judges and 
Inspector, whereupon duplicate returns thereof shall be signed by 
the said Judges, one of which shall be transmitted to each of the 
persons elected, and the other filed among- the records of the cor- 
poration ; and in case of death, resignation, removal, refusal to 
accept, or neglect or refusal to act after acceptance of any of 



THE INCORPORATION OF THE BOROUGH 69 

the said officers, the Burgess or in case of his death, absence 
or inabiht}' to act, or when he neglects or refuses to act, the iirst 
named of the Town Council shall issue his precept, directed to the 
High Constable, or when there is no High Constable, or where he 
refuses or neglects to act, then any of the members of the Town 
Council, shall advertise and hold an election, in manner aforesaid, 
to supply such vacancy, giving at least ten days' notice thereof by 
advertisements set up at four of the most public places in the said 
Borough. 

SECTION 3. And be it further enacted by the authority 
aforesaid, that from and after the first Monday in April next, the 
Burgess and Town Council duly elected as aforesaid, and their 
successors, shall be one body politic and corporate in law, by the 
name and style of "The Burgess and the Town Council of the 
Borough of Connellsville," and shall have perpetual succession, and 
the said Burgess and Town Council aforesaid, and their successors, 
shall be capable in law to receive, hold and possess goods and 
chattels, lands and tenements, rents, liberties, jurisdictions, fran- 
chises and hereditaments, to them and their successors, in fee 
simple or otherwise, not exceeding the yearly value of five thou- 
sand dollars, and also to give, grant, sell, let and assign the same 
lands, tenements, hereditaments and rents, and by the name and 
style aforesaid, they shall be capable in law to sue and be sued, 
plead and be impleaded, in any of the courts of law in this com- 
monwealth, in all manner of actions whatsoever, and to have and 
to use one common seal, and the same from time to time, at their 
will, to change and alter. 

SECTION 4. And be it further enacted by the authority 
aforesaid. That if any person duly elected as Burgess, or a member 
of the Town Council, or Constable, shall refuse or neglect to take 
upon himself the execution of the, office to which he shall have 
been elected, every person so refusing or neglecting shall forfeit 
and pay the sum of twenty dollars ; which fine and all other fines 
and forfeitures incurred and made payable in pursuance of this 
act, or of the by-laws and ordinances of the Town Council, shall 
be for the use of the corporation. 

SECTION 5. And be it further enacted by the authority 
aforesaid. That the Burgess, Town Council and High Constable, 
and each of them, before entering upon the duties of their respec- 
tive offices, shall take an oath or affirmation before any Justice 
of the Peace of said county, to support the constitution of the 
United States and of this State, and to perform the duties of their 
respective offices with fidelity ; and the certificates of such oaths 
and affirmations shall be filed among the records of the said cor- 
poration. 



70 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

SECTION 6. And be it further enacted by the authority 
aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful for the Town Council 
to meet as often as occasion may require, and enact such by-laws 
and make such rules, regulations and ordinances, as shall be deter- 
mined by a majority of them, necessary to promote the peace, good 
order, benefit, and advantage of said Borough, particularly of 
providing for the regulation of the market, streets, alleys, and 
highways therein ; they shall have power to assess, apportion and 
appropriate such taxes as shall be determined by a majority of 
them necessary for carrying the said by-laws, rules and regula- 
tions into complete effect, and also to appoint a Town Clerk, 
Treasurer, two persons to act as Street and Road Commissioners, 
and a Clerk of the Market, annually, and such other officers as 
may be deemed necessary from time to time ; provided, That no 
by-law, rule or ordinance, of the said corporation, shall be repug- 
nant to the constitution or laws of the United States, or of this 
Commonwealth, and that no person shall be punished for the 
breach of a by-law or ordinance, made as aforesaid, until three 
weeks have expired after the promulgation thereof, by at least 
four advertisements set up in the most public places in the said 
Borough ; and provided also. That no tax shall be laid in any 
one year, on the valuation of taxable property, exceeding one- 
half cent in the dollar, unless some object of general utility shall 
be thought necessary, in which case, a majority of the free-holders 
of said Borough by writing under their hands, shall approve of 
and certify the same to the Town Council, who shall proceed to 
assess the same accordingly. 

SECTION 7. And be it further enacted by the authority 
aforesaid, That the Burgess elected and c[ualified, agreeably to this 
act, is hereby authorized and empowered to issue his precept, as 
often as occasion may require, directed to the High Constable, 
commanding him to collect all taxes assessed, and fines and for- 
feitures imposed by this act, or by the ordinances and regulation 
of the corporation; and the same to pay over to the treasurer; and 
the said Burgess is hereby authorized to carry into effect all by- 
laws enacted by the Council and whatever else shall be enjoined 
upon him for the well ordering and governing the said Borough ; 
he shall have jurisdiction in all disputes between the corporation 
and individuals arising under the by-laws, regulations and ordi- 
nances. 

SECTION 8. And be it further enacted by the authority 
aforesaid. That it shall be the duty of the Town Clerk, to attend 
all the meetings of the Town Council, when assembled upon busi- 
ness of the corporation, and perform the duty of clerk thereto, 
and keep and preserve the common seal and records of the cor- 



THE INCORPORATION OF THE BOROUGH Tl 

poration, and be answerable for the same, and also for the faithful 
discharge of all duties which may be enjoined upon him by virtue 
of this act, or of the acts of the corporation, and his attestation, 
with the seal of the corporation, shall be good evidence of the 
thing or act so certified. 

SECTION 9. And be it further enacted by the authority 
aforesaid. That the Treasurer shall give security for the faithful 
discharge of the duties of his office, and for the safe delivery 
into the hands of his successors of all monies, books and accounts 
appertaining thereto upon demand being made by the Burgess for 
that purpose. 

SECTION 10. And be it further enacted by the authority 
aforesaid. That the Street Commissioners, Treasurer, Constable 
and Clerk of the Market, as well as all other officers who may be 
appointed by the corporation or council shall render their accounts 
'to the council once in every year for settlement ; and the said 
accounts being adjusted and settled accordingly, shall be forthwith 
published by the said Council, showing particularly the amount 
of taxes laid and collected and of the expenditures. 

SECTION 11. And be it further enacted by the authority 
aforesaid. That it shall be the duty of the High Constable to give 
notice of the elections by setting up advertisements in the market 
and three other public places in the said Borough, ten daj^s pre- 
viously thereto ; he shall attend and see that the same is opened 
at the time, and in the manner directed by this act ; Provided, 
That Samuel Trevor, and George Mathiot, Esquire, of the said 
town, or either of them, shall publish and superintend the election 
to be held on the first Monday of April next, as herein before 
directed. 

SECTION 1:2. And be it further enacted l)y the authority 
aforesaid, That if any person or persons shall think him, her or 
themselves aggrieved by anything done in pursuance of this act, 
he, she or they may appeal to the u.ext court of quarter sessions 
to be held for the proper county, upon giving security according 
to law, to prosecute his, her or their appeal with effect, and the 
court having taken such order therein as shall seem to them just 
and reasonable, the same shall be conclusive against all parties. 

This Act of Assembly was modified by a general act 
approved the 3d day of April, 1S51, entitled an "Act to 
Regtdate Boroughs," as follows : 

Petition of Citizens of Connellsville presented March 
4th, 1852. 



tX, CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

To the Honorable, the Judges of the Court of Quarter Ses- 
sions of Fayette County : 

The petition of divers citizens of the Borough of Con- 
nehsville, in said county, humbly showeth, that they labour 
under great inconvenience in ascertaining the powers con- 
ferred by the Act of the Legislature incorporating said 
Borough, approved March 1st, 1806. 

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray the Court to 
confer on the Borough of Connellsville as now incorporated, 
with its title and present boundaries, all the rights, privi- 
leges, powers and restrictions conferred by the Act of the 
Legislature, approved the 3d day of April, 1851, entitled 
an Act Regulating Boroughs. 

And also declaring and conforming said Borough into 
a separate and distinct school district with and in conform- 
ity to the said Act approved April 3, 1851. And your peti- 
tioners will pray : 

Names Names 

John Davis, W. W. Hickman, 

George White, John Mitts, 

Aaron Bishop, Josiah Marietta, 

And ninety others. 

ORDER OF COURT. 

Application confirmed by the Court, and all the powers 
of the Act of Assembly approved the 3d clay of April, 1851, 
"Regulating Boroughs," conferred upon the corporation 
of the Borough of Connellsville. 

4th March, 1852. 

By the Court, Rich. Huskins, Clerk. 

The poll-list of the Borough for 1806 was found among 
some old papers in the old Herbert Homestead on Main 
street. On the half of a sheet of foolscap folded lengthwise 
is the original heading, as follows : 

"Names of the voters of the Borough of Connellsville, 
7th day of April, 1806." On this sheet are the following 32 
names, viz : 



1. 


William Tipton 


17. 


2. 


Daniel jMathias 


18. 


3. 


David Barnes 


19. 


4. 


Joseph Page ^ 


20. 


5. 


James Lofrarty 


21. 


6. 


Tymothy Hawkins 


22. 


7. 


Andrew Banning 


23. 


8. 


Charles Williams 


24. 


9. 


Samuel Trevor 


25. 


10. 


Isaac Mears 


26. 


11. 


James Francis 


27. 


12. 


Hiram Connell 


28. 


13. 


William Davis 


29. 


14. 


Adam Snider 


30. 


15. 


Joshua Hunt 


31. 


16. 


William Mefford 


32. 



THE INCORPORATION OF THE BOROUGH i .^ 

George Alathiot 
Jonas Colstock 
John Barnhart 
Andrew Ellison 
Cornelius Woodruff 
Daniel Rogers 
William Morrow 
Joseph Mahaffy 
John Keepers 
Jonathan Moody 
Cornelius Woodruff', Jr. 
David Stuart 
James Blackstone 
Benjamin Evans 
John Page ^^ 
Caleb Trevor 

This election was held in the log school house which 
had been erected by private subscriptions on the lots do- 
nated by the founder of the town, where the High School 
building now stands. The two preceding elections for Bull- 
skin township were also held in this same school house. 

The name of Zachariah Connell does not appear among 
the voters of this list, for the reason that it was a principle 
of his, that those to whom he sold his lots, should control 
the town, and that he should not exert any authority over 
those who had cast their lot with him in this new venture. 
He had already been elected to the high office of Con- 
stable in Bullskin township in the year 1803, and also 
as one of the first three commissioners of Fayette county. 

From additional information, it is certain that this is 
the correct list of the names of the men who voted at the 
first election held for officers of the Borough. 

This election was held on the 7th day of April, 1806. 
At this election Daniel Rogers was elected Burgess and 
the following persons, members of the first Town Council: 
Samuel Trevor, Charles Williams, James Francis, John 
Barnhart, Hiram Connell, William Meff'ord and Anthony 
Bannins:. 



74 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

The above officers are the persons named in the deed 
made by Zachariah Connell for a part of Lot No. 94 for a 
Market House, dated "the loth day of October, 180G," 
and duly placed on record in the Recorder's office of this 
county. The first meeting of the Borough Council was 
held April Kith, 1800, and there and then began the political 
history of that small hamlet. Little did that Burgess and 
Town Council think that the}' were making histor}- that 
would be eagerly scanned by those located on the same 
spot a century later, when that hamlet had developed into 
a large and prosperous city. The minutes of this, the first 
meeting of the Borough Fathers, is well preserved in the 
old minute book and is here reproduced in full. 

No. 1. — At a meeting of the Council of the Borough of Con- 
nellsville, convened by mutual agreement on the IGth day of April, 
1806. John B. Trevor was chosen Tow^n Clerk. The Council 
then proceeded to business and passed the following ordinances, 
viz : 

No. 1. — An ordinance respecting the Borough seal. 

No. 2. — An ordinance enjoining the Burgess to qualify all the 
Borough Officers. 

No. 3. — An ordinance respecting the duties of the Treasurer. 

No. 4. — An ordinance establishing the fees to be charged by 
the Burgess and High Constable. 

No. 5. — An ordinance imposing a fine of ten dollars on any 
person elected by the Council as Officer of the Borough who re- 
fuses to act in that capacitj^ 

No. 6. — An ordinance respecting the qualifications of the Bor- 
ough Officers appointed by the Council. 

No. 7. — An ordinance enjoining the Town Council to notify 
persons appointed to Office, of their appointment. 

No. 8. — An ordinance enjoining the Burgess to draw his order 
on the Treasurer for the payment of such accounts as are approved 
of by the Council. 

No. 9. — An ordinance appointing an assessor and two assist- 
ants. 

No. 10. — An ordinance appointing two Street Commissioners. 

No. 11. — An ordinance appointing an Inspector of Lumber and 
Boats. 

No. 12. — An ordinance making the High Constable Collector- 
No. 13. — An ordinance respecting the paving of the Streets. 

No. 14. — An ordinance respecting hogs running in the Borough. 



THE INCORPORATION OF THE BOROUGH 75 

No. 15. — An ordinance imposing a fine of one dollar on any 
person who gallops a horse within the limits of the Borough, 
etc., etc. 

No. 16. — An ordinance respecting partition fences. 

No. 17. — An ordinance respecting bathing in the river. 

No. 18. — An ordinance respecting the salary of the Town 
Clerk. 

The Council then make the following appointments: 

John Page, Assessor; Cabel Trevor, Benjamin Evans, Assist- 
ant Assessors ; George Mathiot, James Blackston, Street Commis- 
sioners ; Joseph Rogers, Treasurer ; David Barnes, Inspector of 
Lumbe". 

Ihe following resolutions were then read and adopted, viz: 

Ptsolved, That every member of the Council and the Town 
Ckrk wdio does not attend the meetings at the hour appointed or 
within thirty minutes thereof shall forfeit and pay the sum of 
one dollar, to be disposed of as the Council shall direct, unless 
the excuse offered by such delinciuent or delinquents shall be 
deemed sufificient to exonerate him or them from the fine by a 
majorit}' of the members present. 

Resolved, That the Council adjourn until convened by notice 
given in writing by the Town Clerk. 

Adjourned accordingly, 

JOHN B. TREVOR, T. C. 

The series of 18 ordinances passed at the first meeting 
of Council has but a few of any material interest. The 
first one refers to the seal of the Borough, and states "that 
the eagle on the reverse side of a United States half dollar 
shall be the seal of the corporation until another is adopted." 
This seal is reproduced on the cover of this history. 

The third states that the Treasurer shall be recjuired 
to give two hundred dollars security to the Burgess, instead 
of to the Council, for the faithful performance of his 
duties. 

The eighth directs that the Inspector of Lumber shall 
"measure and determine the value of any boards, plank 
or scantling, brought for sale to the Borough, if called upon 
by the seller or purchaser thereof and that he should be 
paid for any number of feet less than one thousand 3o 
cents and one and one half cents for each one hundred 
feet thereafter. 



76 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

The duties of the High Constable are defined in Num- 
ber 12 as that of a tax collector, and that he should pay the 
taxes when collected to the Treasurer, and receive for the 
collection 2^ per cent for all taxes collected. 

In number 15 a fine of one dollar was imposed upon 
any one caught galloping a horse within the Borough, or 
for discharging a fire arm for amusement or mischief 
within the Borough. One third of this fine was to be paid 
to the informant, and the balance to the Borough Treas- 
urer. 

This first minute book is six by eight inches in size 
and contains 262 pages of well written transactions of the 
Borough Council. This book is written close to the mar- 
gins of the page, and no space left either at the top or 
bottom of the page, showing that our fathers had an econ- 
omic view of the Borough's business. It is written with 
quill pens and with ink that is perfectly legible one century 
after and in handwriting that is today unsurpassed. It in- 
cludes the minutes from the first meeting, April 16th, 1806, 
to July 2nd, 1833. In a number of instances, the date and 
the number of the meeting is written in Latin, showing that 
the Clerk was a man of some erudition. Thus this little 
band of men looked up for guidance to the principles of 
"True Democracy" which are "enduring because they are 
right, and invincible because they are just." 



CHAPTER III. 

CIVIC DE\'ELOPMENT. 

This chapter relates chiefly to the business transactions 
of the Town Council. It must be remembered the Council 
for many years was the only elective body in the Borough, 
drafting- all the Borough laws, executing them by the assist- 
ance of the Burgess, and having full control of the town 
schools. The Act of Incorporation of the Borough stated 
that the first election should be held in the school house. 
And it seems certain that this was also the meeting place 
of the Council for a number of years. 

Earlv in the history of our Borough, the members of 
Council took action looking toward a permanent home of 
their own. At the fifth regular meeting, held June 24, IStXi, 
the Council proceeded to fix upon a site proper for a market 
house for the use and convenience of the inhabitants of the 
Borough. ^Ir. Zachariah Connell, being present, offered 
to donate a part of a lot fronting 14 feet on Spring street 
and 40 feet on Church street. The oft'er was accepted and 
a deed for the same received dated October 15, 1806. This 
lot a few years later was considered too small on which to 
erect a market house, and an additional strip was pur- 
chased from Greenberry R. Jones, for the consideration of 
$8.51^. This purchase was made by order of Council, 
June 12, 1810. Previous to this time, by an ordinance 
passed April 24, 1801), Council had appropriated an addi- 
tional strip giving six feet more frontage on Spring street. 
A lot now having been secured, the free holders petitioned 
Council, October 2, 1809, to lay a tax sufficient to build a 
market house. At this meeting, the Council by a vote of 
four to three passed a resolution fixing the tax, at three- 
fourths of a cent on the dollar of taxable property. Before 
this taxation was fixed at one half cent on the dollar for 




THE FIRST MARKET HOUSE AND OI,D CITY HAIJ^ 



CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 



all purposes. David Barnes prepared a plan for a market 
house and submitted it to a meeting" of Council, October 5, 
1809. This plan was accepted and at the same meeting the 
Clerk was ordered to advertise for bids for the erection of 
the building. 

At a meeting' of Council, October 11. 1809, David 
Barnes was granted the contract, upon his l)id of $90.00 with 
a bond for the faithful performance of his contract. We 
find also that at the ]\Iarch o, 1810 meeting, David Barnes 
was given two orders amounting to $10().0() for erecting 
the market house, so it was a long time ago that the orders 
given by Council exceeded the contract price. The same 
contractor was then given $8.00 to build steps to get into 
the building and two double gates to keej) out the sheep. 
Any one who cut up and sold a beef in the market house 
was reciuired to pay 25 cents and on failure to do this was 
fined $1.00, with the exception of those who rented stalls 
by the year. 

An addition was made to this building" fronting on 
Pittsburgh street in 1858, built by Jacob Rhodes, which was 
used as a Council Chamber, Burgess office and lockup, 
and later as a place for keeping the fire hose. The front 
part was rented for general business purposes. But with 
the improvement of the town the old market house had to 
disappear, and, in its place. Council decided to erect a 
substantial three-story brick building". The contract for 
the erection of this building was awarded to Calhoun & 
Co., for the sum of $5,350. Work was commenced on it 
in August, 188(), and the building was completed and taken 
ofif the hands of the contractor, February 24, 1887. 

The front of the first floor was rented for general 
business purposes, the back part was used as a Burgess 
ofBce, lockup and hose room. The front room of the 
second floor was occupied by the Town Council, and the 
rest rented as offices. The third floor was furnished as a 
lodge hall and leased to various secret organizations. This 
building answered the general purposes of a city building 



80 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

for a brief space of time. It was objected to very fre- 
quently bv the citizens, on account of its being located in 
such a public part of the town, so that all arrested persons 
were brought so prominently before the people. The Town 
Council finally worked up their courage to the point of 
action and decided, by resolution, to erect a City Hall, on 
what was known as the public ground. This was at once 
objected to by some of the adjoining property owners, and 
an injunction (preliminary) was granted June 21, llJOl. 
Testimony was taken and arguments heard, and on July 
15, 1901, this preliminary injunction was dissolved by Judge 
Robert E. Umbel. Exceptions were filed to this decision, 
and again they were overruled. An appeal was then taken 
to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, which sustained the 
action of the lower court. It was claimed that the Town 
Council had no other authority for the erection of a City 
Hall, than a municipal ordinance of the Borough, directing 
it to be erected there, and that the ground was given by 
Zachariah Connell, the donor of the land, in 1793, whereb)- 
he dedicated the said public ground to "be and continue 
free for the use of the inhabitants of the said town and 
for travelers who may erect thereon temporary boat yards 
or may from time to time occupy the same, or any part 
thereof for making any vessels and other conveniences for 
the purpose of conveying their property to or from the 
said town," which dedication by the owner makes it illegal 
for the Town Council, by a Borough ordinance to take 
any part of said public ground for building purposes. 

The answer prepared by the counsel for the Borough 
admitted the , dedication and the purpose of the Council ; 
and claimed that the Council had a right to erect said build- 
ing on said grounds, that it would improve the public 
grounds, and that it was not contrary to the dedication of 
the grounds by Zachariah Connell, in his charter of 1793. 

The findings of the Court were that Mr. Zachariah 
Connell was the owner in fee when he made the dedication 
to the inhabitants of Connellsville, that the public use "for 



CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 81 

travelers who ma}' erect thereon temporary boat yards, 
etc." had ceased to exist; that the dedication by Zachariah 
Connell was an irrevocable dedication of the land ; that it 
is a grant to a charitable use of a two-fold character, namely 
for the use of the inhabitants of Connellsville and for trav- 
elers to build boats, and that either branch of this charita- 
ble use could exist without the other ; that the Burgess and 
Town Council of Connellsville are ex-officio trustees and 
vested with reasonable discretion in the execution of their 
trust, that the proposed use to be made of this ground, 
is not inconsistent with the dedication and grant of said land, 
and the erection of said buildings is part of or at least 
germane to the use for which it was originally dedicated. 
There were two questions involved in this legal contest — 
first, whether a Borough Council, acting solely upon the 
authority of its own ordinance, could erect a building upon 
this public ground, which had been preserved free from 
all buildings for more than one hundred years, and ; second, 
whether or not a public use created by the owner of land, 
can be lost by non-use or be extinguished by a Borough or 
a Court. 

The decisions of the various courts in favor of the 
Borough, giving them the right to occupy and erect thereon 
buildings, was not only a glorious victory for those con- 
cerned in this work, but it was the means whereby a dis- 
graceful plot of ground in the center of the Borough, has 
been transformed into one of usefulness and beauty. 

The Town Council lost no time, after disposing of the 
old public building by auction to the highest bidder, to use 
this money to erect on this plot of ground a large and com- 
modious City Hall. Plans were prepared, and bids received, 
and the contract let to Calhoun & Co.. August 3, 1901, for 
the erection of the present public building for the sum of 
$15,1-1:0. A strike among the mechanics delayed the work, 
and it was not completed and occupied until August 18, 
1902. This building is two stories high, with a finished 
basement and attic, built of buff brick and of the old Dutch 
stvle of architecture. 



X 



1 1 






k 



te^^- - 



NEW CITY HALT-. 




CI\IC DE\'ELOPMENT 



The grounds around the City Hah have recently been 
graded, and, by the donations of several citizens, planted 
in beautifully arranged flower beds, and grassy plots, mak- 
ing it an attractive spot to strangers and a joy to the heart 
of every citizen of the Borough. 

BOROUGH EXTENSIONS 

The original plot of the town, as laid out by Zachariah 
Connell on the 21st day of Alarch, 1793, was bounded on 
the north by North alley on the east by East alley, on the 
south by South alley and on the west b}' the Youghiogheny 
river. The plan of lots as incorporated by the Act of 
Assembly, March 1st, 1806, included Connell's plan of lots, 
and much additional territory, which is described and 
bounded in Chapter II of this book. On April 20th, 18T4:, 
Council passed an ordinance admitting a large section adja- 
cent to the Borough of Connellsville as a part of said Bor- 
ough. This petition contained the names of many residents 
not now living, as James Calhoun, Henry Porter, Thomas 
Balsley, Jacob ]\Iay, A. S. Cameron, James P. McKarnes, 
Samuel Porter and some still living as John Detemple, 
James Stafi^ord and others. 

This section, lying adjacent to the said Borough, is 
described as follows, to wit: "Beginning on the west side 
of the Youghiogheny River where the present upper line 
of the Borough touches low water mark, thence up the west 
side of the said river, at low water mark, by the several 

courses thereof feet ; thence across said river to the 

eastern bank thereof, thence south seventy-eight degrees, 
east two hundred and ninety-eight feet to Grays' orchard 
fence; thence crossing the Pittsburg and Connellsville 
railroad and Trumps' run where a small stream enters the 
same, south seventy-six and Yz degrees, east nineteen hun- 
dred and fifty-seven feet to a stone ; thence crossing the 
Trump road north thirty degrees east two thousand five 
hundred and fourteen feet to a large black oak ; thence 
crossing the Clav Pike north thirty-five degrees, east, three 



84 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



thousand two hundred feet to a red oak. a corner ; thence 
north thirty-two and one-half degrees west seventeen hun- 
dred and sixty-five feet to the angle formed by the junction 
of the Break Neck and Mt. Pleasant roads ; thence north 
seventy-one degrees east two thousand nine hundred and 
twenty feet crossing a public road and Mountz Creek to 
a point in the public road where the South Western Penn- 
sylvania Railroad crosses the same ; thence by said public 
road four hundred and sixty-four feet to a point where the 
railroad of the Pittsburg & Connellsville Gas Coal & Coke 
Co., crosses the same; thence by the present line of the 
railroad of said company four thousand one hundred and 
seventy feet to where the same connects with the Pittsburg 
& Connellsville Railroad ; thence crossing the mouth of 
Mountz creek and also crossing the Youghiogheny river 

by straight line feet to low water mark on the lower 

side of Opossum Creek, where the same empties into said 
river ; thence up said river on the western side of said river 

at low water mark feet to the present lines of said 

Borough to the place of beginning, be and the same is here- 
by admitted a part of the said Borough of Connellsville, 
and hereafter the said section shall forever be deemed and 
taken and allowed to be part of said Borough and subject 
to the jurisdiction and government thereof as fully as if 
the same had been originally a part of said Borough." 

No additions were made to the Borough from 1874 
until 1905. The growth of the town has been constant since 
the addition in 1874 and the building line has pushed itself 
beyond the confines of the Borough in almost every direc- 
tion. Particularly marked has this been toward the south, 
due to the numerous manufacturing plants located in that 
vicinity. A petition of the residents of the South Side was 
presented to Council, early in the year 1905, for admission 
to the Borough. By an ordinance, dated March 20, 1905, 
their request was granted. This plot was bounded by the 
river on the west, Woodlawn avenue on the south, and 
chieflv bv Isabella street on the east. The chartered Bor- 




OI.D I.AND MARKS OF THE BOROUGH. 



86 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

ough of 1806 contained 152 acres. The additions of 1874 
contained 436 acres making" in the Borough at that time 
578 acres. The addition of 1905, known as the South Side 
addition, contained 218^ acres, so that the Borough of 
Connellsville at this date contains 796^^ acres. 

This latest addition to the Borough is tlius described : 
"Beginning at a point on the west side of the Yougli- 
ioglieny river and at the present Borough line ; thence 
south 77 degrees, 39 minutes east 705.2 feet to a point in 
the B. & O. yards; thence south 78 degrees 3 minutes east 
1957 feet to a point on the east side of an alley running be- 
tween Davidson avenue and Newmeyer avenue ; thence 
north 28 degrees 13 minutes east 1682.3 feet to a point in 
the middle of Isabella street ; thence south 35 degrees 54 
minutes east 1354.32 feet to a point in the middle of New- 
meyer avenue and Isabella street; thence south 16 degrees 
east 1926.59 feet to a point on the extension of Woodlawn 
avenue; thence south 86 degrees 2 minutes west 440.21 
feet to Oak street; thence south 89 degrees forty-four (44) 
minutes west 1967.2 feet to Etna street; thence south 16 
degrees east 117.37 feet to Soisson street or Gibson ave- 
nue; thence north 79 degrees 20 minutes west 183.50 feet 
to a point; thence south 84 degrees 10 minutes west 351.3 
feet to a point in Gibson avenue ; thence south 71 degrees 
west 251.5 feet; thence south 58 degrees west 237 feet to 
a point; thence south 76 degrees 38 minutes west 760 feet 
to the west side of the Youghiogheny river ; thence along 
and with the Youghioghen}^ river and its meanderings to 
the place of beginning, and lying adjacent to the said Bor- 
ough of Connellsville, to be annexed to, admitted to, taken 
in and made part of the said Borough of Connellsville and 
that boundary lines of the said Borough of Connellsville 
be and they are hereby extended so as to include all of the 
aforesaid and hereinbefore described piece or parcel of land, 
which said territory so as aforesaid to be annexed is shown 
and delineated on the plot annexed to and made part of the 
said petition, a copy of which said petition and of which said 



CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 87 

plan are hereunto annexed and herebv made part of this 
ordinance. 

2nd. "That the Borough SoHcitors be, and thev are 
hereby authorized to prepare and file in the Court of Quar- 
ter Sessions of Fayette county, a plan or plot showing the 
boundary of the original Borough of Connellsville and the 
extension hereby admitted, and a certified copy of this 
ordinance and the description of the boundaries of the 
orignal Borough of Connellsville and of the Borough of 
Connellsville as hereby extended, as directed by the Act 
of Assembly in such case made and provided." 
POPULATION. 

The earliest record of the number of people living in 
Connellsville is that of Thaddeus Mason Harris of the 
Massachusetts Plistorical Society, who made a tour through 
this region in 1S03. In his journal of ^Monday, June 13. 
18(»3, he made the following note: "After dining in Union- 
town with Judges Addison and Rol^erts and other law- 
yers, towards evening" we pursued our journey as far as 
Connellsville, where we slept. This town has been settled 
eight years. It is pleasantly situated on the Yough River 
and contains about 80 houses, and 400 inhabitants." 

His description of our river is also interesting: "The 
name of this river is spelt by some writers Yohogany, and 
by others Yoxhiogeni, by General Braddock it is written 
Youghgoughane, but the common pronunciation is Yoka- 
ganv, and the inhaljitants in these parts call it the Yough 
River." 

The above statement undoubtedly refers to the 
number of people in this entire region and not the town 
alone. The U. S. Treasurer's reports give the following 
figures : 

Year Population Year Population 

1810 498 1870 1293 

1820 600 1880 3615 

1830 1205 1890 5629 

1840 1436 1900 7160 

1850 1553 1906 11200 

1860 996 



88 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

VALUATION. 
The total valuation of the Borough for the year 1899 
was $3,002,585. 

The valuation for the year 1906 is $3,362,115. 

VOTE. 

The total Borough vote for the year 1895 was 1030. 

The total Borough vote for president in 1900 was 138-1-. 

The total Borough vote for president in 1904 was 1665. 

The number of registered voters in the spring of 1906 
was as follows : First Ward, 527 ; Second Ward, 530 ; 
Third Ward, 632; Fourth Ward, 717. Total, 2,-t06. 

BOROUGH SEALS. 

The first Act of the first Council, and the first ordinance 
passed at the first meeting, was to adopt a seal for the 
Borough of Connellsville. 

This meeting" was held April 16, 1806. 

At the seventh meeting of Council on Sept. 5, 1806, the 
Clerk was authorized to procure a seal and a screw for the 
use of the corporation, and to draw on the Treasurer for 
the amount of the same. 

This seal is a reproduction of the eagle side of the 
silver half dollar of that date, with the inscription, "Borough 
of Connellsville." 

SECOND SEAL. 

It was first used by Council, July l-t, 1843, when it was 
attached to a supplementary orchnance passed at that date. 

This same seal was readopted by an ordinance passed 
April 12, 1886, which states that the seal shall be the "plow 
and anvil surrounded by the inscription. Borough of Con- 
nellsville, Pa." 

These two seals are reproduced on the cover of this 
book. 

BOROUGH OFFICIALS. 

The following list of Borough officials has been com- 
piled from the records : 
1806 Burgess : Daniel Rogers. 



CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 89 



Courtcil: Samuel Trevor, Charles \Mlliams, Dr. 

James Francis, John Barnhart, William Alefford, 

Anthony Banning, Hiram Connell. 
Town Clerk: John B. Trevor. 
High Constable: William Davies. 
Treasurer: Joseph Rogers. 
Street Commissioners : George ]Vlathiot, James 

Blackstone. 
/^-Assessor: John Page. 

Assistant Assessors: Caleb Trevor, Benjamin Evans. 
Inspector of Lumber : David Barnes. 

1807 Burgess: James Blackstone, elected July 25th, 1807. 
Council: Samuel Trevor, Anthony Banning. Dr. 

James Francis, John Barnhart, Wm. ]\leiiord, J no. 

Page. 
High Constable: Andrew E^Uison. 
Town Clerk: Jno. B. Trevor. 
Treasurer: Joseph Rogers. 
Street Commissioners: Charles Williams, William 

Davies. 
Assessor : George Mathiot. 
Inspector of Lumber: David Barnes. 
Assistant Assessors : Daniel Rogers, David Barnes. 

1808 Burgess: James Blackstone. 

Council: Samuel Trevor. Charles Williams, Anthony 
Banning. Dr. James Francis, John Pag< Jonas 
Colstock, Daniel Rogers. 

Town Clerk: Jno. B. Trevor. 

High Constable: James Leonard. 

Treasurer : Joseph Rogers. 

Street Commissioners : John Barnhart, David Barnes. 

1809 Burgess: Abraham Baldwin. 

Council: Joshua Gibson. George Mathiot. Caleb 
Trevor, John Lamb. Isaac Mears, Charles WeHs, 
James Lafferty. 

High Constable : Elisha Clayton. 

Clerk: J. D. ^lathiot. 



90 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Treasurer : John B. Trevor. 

Street Commissioners : Daniel Rogers, Alexander 

Campbell. 
Assessor : Joseph Rogers. 

Assistant Assessors : James Francis, David Barnes. 
Inspector of Lumber and Boats : David Barnes. 

1810 Burgess : Abraham Baldwin. 

Council : Doctor James Eastep, Doctor Robert More, 
John Fuller, David Barnes, Daniel Cohanour, 
Jesse Taylor, Joseph Rogers. 

High Constable : William Kirk. 

Clerk : John Lamb. 

Treasurer : John Page. 

Street Commissioners : James Francis, Joshua Gib- 
son. 

Assessor : Isaac Mears. 

Assistant Assessors : Caleb Trevor, Charles Wells. 

Clerk of the Market : Otho Williams. 

Inspector of Boats, Lumber and Cord Wood : David 
Steward. 
In ( )ctober Anthony Banning was appointed Assessor 
for the year 1810, and Zachariah Connell and David Stewart, 
Assistant Assessors. 

1811 Burgess: John Lamb. 

Council : Caleb Trevor, Daniel Rodgers, Elisha Clay- 
ton, Charles Williams, David Steward, James 
Francis, Richard Hardin. 

High Constable : David Smith. 

Clerk : Joshua Gibson. 
• Treasurer : John Page. 

Street Commissioners : Otho L. Williams, Anthony 
Banning. 

Assessor : Samuel Trevor. 

Clerk of the Market : James Lafferty. 

Inspector of Boats, Lumber and Cord Wood : David 
Barnes. 

1812 Burgess : John Lamb. 



CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 91 



Council : Abraham Baldwin, Caleb Trevor, Charles 
Williams. Utho L. Williams, Daniel Cohanoiir,. 
James Lafferty, Robert Long. 

High Constable : Daniel Smith. 

Clerk : Joshua Gibson. 

Treasurer : John Page. 

Street Commissioners: Alexander Johnston, James. 
Stafford. 

Assessor: John Fuller. 

Assistant Assessors : Richard Thusden. Robert D. 
More. 

Inspector of Boats, Lumber and Cord A\'ood : Wm. 
]\L'Cormick. 
1813 Burgess: John Lamb. 

Council: Caleb Trevor, Charles \\'illiams, John M. 
Burdette, Jacob Kuhn, William Kirk. Michael Gil- 
more, Daniel L. Norton. 

High Constable : Otho L. Williams. 

Clerk: Otho L. WiUiams. 

Treasurer : Abraham Baldwin. 

Street Commissioners : Thos. Emery, James Shaw. 

Assessor : Joshua Gibson. 

Assistant Assessors : ^^'illiam McCormick, Michael 
Trump. 

Inspector of Boats, Lumber and Cord Wood : David 
Steward. 
1811: Burgess : Daniel L. Norton. 

Council: Joseph Barnet, William Kirk, James Fran- 
cis, Isaa^ !'. [ears, Charles W'illiams, Robert Long, 
John Fuller. 

High Constable : Michael Trump. 

Clerk: Otho L. Williams. 

Treasurer : Abraham Baldwin. 

Street Commissioners : William Kirk, Otho L. Wil- 
liams. 

Assessor : Caleb Trevor. 

Assistant Assessors: John Lamb, Otho L. WiUiams. _ 



93 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Inspector of Boats, Lumber and Cord Wood: David 

Stewart. 
Clerk of the Market: Elisha Clayton. 
1815 Burgess : Isaac Mears. 

Council: Elisha Clayton, James Shaw, John M. Bur- 

dette, Elisha Crossland, Daniel L. Norton, Hiram 

Herbert, Robert D. More. 
High Constable : William Kirk. 
Clerk : David Steward. 
High Constable : Caleb Trevor. 
Treasurer : Abraham Baldwin. 
Street Commissioners : George Mathiot, Stephen 

Smith. 
Assessor : John Lamb. 
Assistant Assessors : William Davidson, William 

Mefford. 
Inspector of Boats, Lumber and Cord Wood: Mi- 
chael Trump. 
181(J Burgess: Isaac Mears. 

Council : George Mathiot, William Davidson, John 

Lamb, Robert Long, Charles Williams, James 

Francis, John Heinbough. 
High Constable : Elisha Crossland. 
Clerk : Jonathan Kurtz. 
Treasurer : Abraham Baldwin. 
Street Commissioners : William Little, George Mor- 

iarti. 

1817 Burgess: Isaac Mears. 

Council : Abraham Baldwin, George Mathiot, Caleb 
Trevor, Charles Williams, Robert Long, Elisha 
Crossland, John Adams. 

High Constable: Joseph Keepers. 

Clerk : John Boyd. 

Treasurer : Elisha Clayton. 

Street Commissioners : Samuel Page, Joseph Culbert- 
son. 

1818 Burgess : John Boyd. 



CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 



93 



Council : Isaac Alears, Abraham Baldwin, Caleb Tre- 
vor, Robert Long, James Francis, Alexander John- 
ston, Henry Welty. 

High Constable: George Marietta. 

Clerk: William G. Turner. 

Treasurer: Elisha Clayton. 

Street Commissioners: George Mathiot, Frederick 
Bierer. 

Sexton and Inspector of Cord Wood, sold within the 
Borough: Peter Stillwagon. 
1819 Burgess : John Boyd. 

Council: George Mathiot, Henry Welty, Robert 
Long, John Lamb, Frederick Bierer, Caleb Trevor, 
William Litle. 

High Constable : Thomas Kilpatrick. 

Clerk : Dr. Charles McLane. 

Treasurer: Elisha Clayton. 

Street Commissioners: Herman Gephart, Asher 
Smith. 

Inspector of Boats, Lumber and Boards: Michael 

Trump. 

Sexton and Inspector of Cord Wood: Peter Still- 
wagon. 
1820 Burgess: John Lamb. 

Council: John Fuller, Michael Trump, Richard 
Crossland, Daniel Cohanour, Timothy Buett, Fred- 
erick Bierer, Jesse Taylor. 

High Constable: Wihiam Baltzley. 

Clerk: Charles McLane. 

Treasurer: Robert D. More. 

Street Commissioners: George Marietta, Andrew 
Stillwagon. 

Inspector of Boats, Boards and Lumber: James 
Shaw. 

Sexton and Inspector of Cord Wood: Peter Still- 
wagon. 

Dos: Killer: Adam Snider. 



94 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

1821 Burgess: Isaac ]\Iears. 

Council : John Lamb, Michael Gilmore, Robert Long, 
Samuel Page, Hiram Herbert, Asher Smith, Mi- 
chael Trump. 

High Constable : Richard Crossland. 

Clerk : Charles AIcLane. 

Treasurer : Lestor L. Norton. 

Street Commissioners : Alexander Johnston, Moses 
McCormick. 

Sexton : Peter Stillwagon. 

Inspector of Cord Wood : William Little. 

Inspector of Boats, Boards and Lumber : Michael 
Trump. 

1822 Burgess : George Mathiot. 

Council : Abraham Baldwin, Alichael Trump, Elisha 

Clayton, Hiram Herbert, Herman Gebhart, Caleb 

Trevor, Asher Smith. 
Hig'h Constable : John Adams. 
Clerk : Caleb Trevor. 
Treasurer: Alexander Johnston. 
Street Commissioners : George Marietta, William 

Litle. 
Sexton : Peter Stillwagon. 
Inspector of Wood : Alichael Trump. 
Inspector of Boats, Boards and Lumber : Michael 

Trump. 

1823 Burgess : Carlos Alonzo Norton. 

Council ; Isaac Mears, Joseph Keepers, Moses Mc- 
Cormick, Theophiles Sheppard, William Mifford, 
Josiah D. Stillwagon, Samuel Page. 

High Constable : John Boyd. 

Clerk: Isaac Mears. 

Treasurer: Alexander Johnston. 

Street Commissioners : Valentine Coughenour, Rob- 
ert Long. 

Sexton : Peter Stillwagon. 

Inspector of Boats, Boards and Lumber : Michael 
Trump. 



CIVIC DEV^ELOPMENT 95 

Inspector of Cord Wood : William Litle. 

1824 Burgess : Abraham Baldwin. 

Council : Robert D. More, Daniel Rogers. 

George JMathiot, William Davidson, Henry Welty, 

Michael Trump, Hiram Herbert. 
High Constable : Herman Gebhart. 
Clerk : W' m. Clemens. 
Treasurer : Alexander Johnston. 
Street Commissioners : Asher Smith, Asa Smith. 
Sexton : Alichael B. Lore. 
Inspector of Boats, Lumber and Boards : Michael 

Trump. 
Inspector of Cord Wood : Elisha Clayton. 

1825 Burgess : Abraham Baldwin. 

Council : W' illiam Davidson, Asher Smith, William 
Balsley, Joseph Keepers, George j\Iarietta, Richard 
Crossland, William Clemens. 

High Constable : John Fairchild. 

Clerk: William Clemens. 

Treasurer : Lestor L. Norton. 

Street Commissioners : Dr. Robert D. More, Theo- 
philus Sheppard. 

Inspector of Boats, Boards, W'ood and Lumber: Mi- 
chael Trump. 

Keeper of Ladders : Stewart Johnston. 

1826 Burgess : Caleb Trevor. 

Council : Robert Long, Joseph Herbert, Samuel Tre- 
vor, Thomas Keepers, James Collins, John B. 
Stewart, Isaac Taylor. 

High Constable : Robert McGuire. 

Clerk : William Davidson. 

Treasurer : Josiah Kurtz. 

Street Commissioners : \'alentine Coughanour, Hiram 

Snyder. 

Sexton, Michael B. Lore. 

Inspector of Cord Wood : Henry Welty. 

Inspector of Boats, Boards and Lumber : Henry 
Weltv. 



9G CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

1827 Burgess : Herman Gebhart. 

Council : Andrew Stillwagon, Robert Long, Joseph 

Trevor, Henry Welty, Michael Trump, George 

Marietta, William R. Turner. 
High Constable : Samuel McCormick. 
Clerk : Joseph Trevor. 
Treasurer : Josiah Kurtz. 
Street Commissioners : Joseph Herbert, Valentine 

Coughanour. 
Sexton: ^Michael B. Lore. 

Inspector of Boats, Lumber, etc. :Hiram Herbert. 
Keeper of Ladders : David Weymer. 
1838 Burgess: Lester L. Norton. 

Council : Hiram Herbert, Samuel Page, Jonas Coal- 
stock, William Davidson, Herman Gebhart, Thos. 

Keepers, Richard Crossland. 
High Constable : Asher Smith. 
Clerk : Joseph Barnett. 
Treasurer : Josiah Kurtz. 
Street Commissioners : Theophilus Sheppard, Samuel 

McCormick. 
Sexton : Michael B. Lore. 
Inspector of Boats, Lumber, etc. : Hiram Herbert. 

Trump. 
Clerk of the Market : Robert Long. 
Keeper of Borough Ladders : Hiram Snider. 
1829 Burgess : Robert Long. 

Council : Abraham Baldwin, Samuel Page, John W. 

Philips, Caleb Trevor, James Collins, William Bals- 

ley, William Davidson. 
High Constable : John Balsley. 
Clerk : Caleb Trevor. 
Treasurer : Josiah Kurtz. 

Street Commissioners : Asher Smith, Charles King. 
Ladder Keeper : Clement Smith. 
Sexton : Michael B. Lore. 
Inspector of Boats and Lumber : Michael Trump. 



CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 97 

Inspector of Cord Wood : Elisha Clayton. 
Clerk of the Market : Alexander T. Keepers. 

1830 Burgess : John Fuller. 

Council : Joseph Trevor, Joseph Rogers, Valentine 
Coughanour, Alexander T. Keepers, Henry W. 
Lewis, George Marietta, Herman Gehhart. 

High Constable : James Collins. 

Clerk : Henry W. Lewis. 

Treasurer : Henry Blackstone. 

Street Commissioners : James \\ haley, Thomas L. 
Kilpatrick. 

Sexton : George Marietta. 

Ladder Keeper : William Litle. 

Inspector of Boats and Lumber, Alichael Trump. 

Inspector of Cord Wood : Elisha Clayton. 

Clerk of the Market : Robert Torrence. 

1831 Burgess : Josiah Kurtz. 

Council : Isaac Taylor, John Wilson, Samuel Page, 
JMichael Trump, John B. Boswell, Andrew P. 
Stillwagon. 

High Constable : Jacob Conrad. 

Clerk : Alichael B. Lore. 

Treasurer : Robert Long. 

Street Commissioners: Washington W'haley, Joseph 
Kimmel. 

Sexton : Thomas L. Kilpatrick. 

Ladder Keeper : Herman Gebhart. 

Inspector of Lumber and Boats : Valentine Cough- 
anour. 

Inspector of Cord Wood : Elisha Clayton. 

Clerk of the Market : Samuel ^IcCormick. 

1832 Burgess : 

Council : John W. Phillips, David Shallenberger, 
Samuel Marshall, James Collins, Jacob Conrad, 
Richard Crossland, Samuel McCormick. 

Clerk: Henry W. Lewis. 

Treasurer : Caleb Trevor. 



98 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Street Commissioners: Hiram Herbert, John B. Bos- 
well. 

Inspector of Wood and Coal: Washington Whaley. 

Sexton : Thomas L. Kilpatrick. 
1833 Burgess : William Davidson. 

Council : Caleb Trevor, Hiram Herbert, Lester L. 
Norton, James G. Turner, Josiah Kurtz, William 
Neal, Valentine Coughanour. 

High Constable : Noble C. McCormick. 

Clerk: Henry W. Lewis. 

Treasurer : Joseph Herbert. 

Street Commissioners : Samuel Marshall, Thomas L. 

Kilpatrick. 

Sexton : Thomas L. Kilpatrick. 

1857 Burgess : Joseph Johnston. 

Council : Samuel Crossland, Joseph Fuller, Jonathan 
Enos, Joseph Trump, N. C. McCormick, Bateman 
Goe. 

Constable : Joseph Murray. 

Clerk: R. M. Murphy. 

1858 Burgess : Joseph Johnston. 

Council: Joseph Trump, Jonathan Enos, H. B. Goe, 
N. C. McCormick, John Fuller, Stephen Robbins. 
Constable : Amos Stafford. 
Clerk: R. M. Murphey. 

1859 Burgess: R. M. Murphey. 

Council: H. B. Goe, N. C. McCormick, John Fuller, 
Stephen Robbins, T. R. Davidson, Lutellus Lind- 
ley. 

Constable: M. B. Stauif"er. 

Clerk : R. M. Murphy, Joseph Johnston. 

1860 Burgess : John K. Brown. 

Council : John Fuller, Stephen Robbins, Lutellus 
Lindley, Joseph Herbert, Jonathan Enos, Stephen 
McBride. 

Constable : Samuel Page. 

Clerk : Joseph Johnston. 



CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 1)9 

1861 Burgess : Abraham Gallentine. 

Council : Lutellus Lindley, Joseph Herbert, Jonathan 
Enos, John Fuher, Stephen McBride, Samuel 
Freeman. 

Constable : Samuel Page. 

Clerk : Joseph Johnston. 

1862 Burgess : Benjamin Prichard. 

Council: Jonathan Enos, Stephen McBride, John 
Fuller, Samuel F>eeman, Joseph Herbert, Lutellus 
Lindley. 

Constable : Samuel Page. 

Clerk : Joseph Johnston. 

1863 Burgess : Benjamin Prichard. 

Council: John Fuller, Samuel F>eeman, Joseph Her- 
bert, Lutellus Lindley, John D. Frisbee, John Kil- 
patrick. 

Constable : James Stafford. 

Clerk : Joseph Johnston. 

1864 Burgess : James N. Walker. 

Council: Joseph Herbert, Lutellus Lindley, John D. 

FVisbee, John Kilpatrick, Joseph Trump, Samuel 

Page. 
Constable: James Staft'ord. 
Clerk: Joseph Johnston. 

1865 Burgess: James X. Walker. 

Council: John D. F>isbee, John Kilpatrick, Joseph 
Trump, Samuel Page, Joseph Herbert, John 
Greenland. 
Constable : Lloyd Johnston. 
Clerk : Joseph Johnston. 
1866 : Burgess : Thomas M. Fee. 

Council : Samuel Page, John Cooley, Joseph Her- 
bert, John Greenland, David Connell, Joseph 
Keepers. 
Constable : Lloyd Johnston. 
' Clerk: J. T. McCormick. 
1867 Burgess : Gen. R. T. Galloway. : 



100 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSNTLLE 

Council : Joseph Keepers, J. Kurtz, J. W. Coulter, 
David Connell, Joseph Herbert, John Greenland. 

1868 In this year two separate elections were held for 

Borough Officers, by two different sets of officers. 
Both elections were unsatisfactory and declared 
null and void. The Court held a new election for 
Burgess, but the condition was still unsatisfactory 
and so remained until the year 1869. After this 
year seven councilnien were elected annually. 

1869 Burgess: Samuel J. Cox. 

Council : Robert B. Cox, David AVelsh, Jonathan 
Enos, Pienrv N. Stillwagon, John Kilpatrick, James 
McGrath, Samuel Freeman. 

Constable : Robert Atkinson. 

Clerk: J. T. JNIcCormick. 

1870 r)urgess : Samuel J. Cox. 

Council: John Kilpatrick, Jonathan Enos, William 
llannam, John Beatty, J. R. Alurphy, John D. 
Frisbee, James AIcGrath. 

Clerk : J. T. JMcCormick. 

Treasurer : John D. Erisbee. 

1871 Burgess: JMajor Benjamin Prichard. 

Council: James Johnston, (President) John D. Eris- 
bee, Edward Dean, Joshua A^ance, Samuel Page, 
Peter IMartin, Joseph Marietta. 

Treasurer: John D. Erisbee. 

Clerk: J. T. AlcCormick. 

1872 Burgess: Benjamin Erankinberger. 

Council: Joshua J\I. Dushane (President) Christian 
Snyder, John D. Erisbee, Benjamin E. Baer, John 
Kilpatrick, George W. Eoust. 

Constable: Thomas M. Eee. 

Clerk: J. T. Johnston. 

1873 Burgess: Benjamin Erankinberger. 

Council: John R. Nickel, Jonathan Enos, David Ma- 
haney, Henry Shaw, James Cunningham, S. P. L. 
Franks. 



CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 101 

Constable : ]\Iilton S. Collins. 
Clerk : David Barnes. 
Treasurer : Josiah B. Kurtz. 

1874 Burgess: Benjamin Frankinberger. 

Council: Dr. John R. Xickel, (died July IT, 1874), 
James Cunningham, S. P. L. Franks, George W. 
Stillwagon, Joseph [Marietta, Jacob i\L Luellen. 

Clerk : David Barnes. 

Treasurer: J. B. Kurtz. 

1875 Burgess: James E. Stillwagon. 

Council: David L. Walker, M. B. Stauffer, (died 

March 16, 187Gj, W. Kilpatrick, Thomas Adams, 

Samuel Heffley. 
Constable : Robert Atkinson. 
Clerk: Lee H. Walker. 
187G Burgess : Joseph F". Torry. 

Council: David Blackburn, J. T. AlcCormick, James 

Cunningham. Henry Porter, J. T. Herwick, Joseph 

Johnston. 
Constable: W^m. Shaw. 
Clerk: Isaac ]\I. Xewcomer. 
Treasurer : J. B. Kurtz. 

1877 Burgess : J. Emmet Stillwagon. 

Council: Joseph Johnston, J. T. AlcCormick, Thomas 
Edmonds, Province Buttermore, James ]\IcGrath, 
John T. Herwick. 

Constable : Alexander P. Tarr. 

Clerk : Henry Page. 

1878 Burgess : Benjamin Prichard. 

Council : J. T. AlcCormick, Province Buttermore, 
Thos. V. Edmonds, Hugh Stillwagon, George 
Enos, Peter Stouffer. 

Constable : Ross Balsley. 

Clerk : Henry Page. 

Treasurer : L. P. Xorton. 

1879 Burgess : Joseph Johnston. 

Council : Hugh Stillwagon, Rockwell Marietta, Chris. 



102 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILEE 

Balsley, William Hannam, Joseph M. Kurtz, Lloyd 

Johnston. 
Constable: J. H. McCormick. 
Treasurer : L. P. Norton. 

1880 Burgess : Joseph Johnston. 

Council : Joseph T. A'IcCorniick, Isaac Rutter, Hiram 
Balsley, W. J. Hannam, James McGrath, J. R. 
Balsley. 

Constable : J. H. McCormick. 

Clerk : Samuel M. Foust. 

Treasurer : L. P. Norton. 

1881 Burgess : John Kurtz. 

Council : Lloyd Johnston, Henry Wicham, Edmund 
Dunn, Winfield S. Hood, Benjamin F. Boyts, 
Jesse H. Purdy. 

Constable : Waitman Davis. 

Clerk: J. S. McCaleb. 

Treasurer : L. P. Norton. 

1882 Burgess : J. E. Stillwagon. 

Council : Isaac W. Rutter, Wm. H. Sturgis, Jesse H. 

Purdy, Crawford Stillwagon, Rockwell Marietta, 

Peter J. Harrigan. 
Constable : Ross Balsley. 
Clerk : Hugh Stillwagon. 
Treasurer: L. P. Norton. 

1883 Burgess : James Gray. 

Council: J. M. Snyder, G. W. Newcomer, Clark Col- 
lins, J. T. McCormick, J. T. Greenland, Edward 
Dean. 

Clerk : H. P. Snyder. 

Treasurer : Lester Norton. 

1884 Burgess : James FI. Gray. 

Council: Clark Collins, I. T. Russell, Jesse Town- 
send, Reece W. Barnes, Henry C. Huston, James 
T. Greenland. 

Clerk: J. S. McCaleb. 

Treasurer : L. P. Norton. 



CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 



103 



1885 Burgess: J. E. Stillwagon. 

Council: J. T. Russell, J. M. Townsend, Clark Col- 
lins, Reece W. Barnes, Jos. T. McCormick, Rock- 
well Marietta. 

Secretary: J. S. McCaleb. 

Treasurer: L. P. Norton. 

1886 Burgess: Jas. M. Cavender. 

Council: Crawford Stillwagon (President), J. S. 
McCaleb. J. T. McCormick, J. M. Townsend, 
Cyrus Echard, John Neeb, Rockwell ^larietta, I. 
T. Russell. 

Secretary: James Echard. 

Treasurer: L. P. Norton. 

1887 Burgess: A. Yohe. 

Council: Crawford Stillwagon (President), A. B. 
McHugh, John T. Ward, Christian Snyder, Frank 
Coughanour, R. Marietta, S. R. Long, J. S. Mc- 
Caleb. 

Secretary: J. D. Stillwagon. 

Treasurer: Lester P. Norton. 

1888 Burgess: Albert Yohe. 

Council: Christian Snyder (President), A. B. Mc- 
Hugh, L. W. Wolf, Samuel R. Long, Rockwell 
Marietta, Frank Coughenour, George McCartney. 

Secretary: W. H. Hugus. 

Treasurer: L. P. Norton. 

1889 Burgess: W. S. Yard. 

Council: Rockwell Marietta (President), L. W. 
Wolf, Philip Wilkey, Martin Mullen, W. H. Bry- 
ner, James H. Yates, George W. McCartney, W. 
A. Bishop. 

Secretary : W. H. Hugus. 

Treasurer: L. P. Norton. 

1890 Burgess: W. S. Yard. 

Council: W. A. Bishop (President), S. S. Stalil. J. 
W. Stouffer, P. J. Harrigan, Martin Mullin. Rock- 



104: CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



well Marietta, James H. Yates, Crawford Still- 
wagon. 

Secretary: J. D. Stillwagon. 

Treasurer : L. P. Norton. 

1891 Burgess: J. Emmet Stillwagon. 

Council: Crawford Stillwagon (President), H. C. 

Huston, Thomas Farrell, Samuel Heffley, W. S. 

Schenck, S. S. Stahl, P. J. Harrigan, Rockwell 

Marietta. 
Secretary: J. D. Stillwagon. 
Treasurer : L. P. Norton. 

1892 Burgess : Samuel R. Long. 

Council: Rockwell Marietta (President), John Barge, 
P. J. Harrigan, Conrad Hoop, H. C. Huston, 
Thomas Farrell, Samuel Heffley. W. S. Schenck. 

Secretary: J. D. Stillwagon. 

Treasurer: P. J. Pagan. 

1893 Burgess: J. B. Kurtz. 

Council: C. Hoop (President), P. S. Newmeyer, P. 
J. Harrigan, Wm. T. Buttermore, Lin. F. Ruth, 
John Barge, Renwick Davidson, R. Marietta. 

Secretary : Byron Porter. 

Treasurer : Lloyd Johnston. 

1894 Burgess: J. B. Kurtz. 

Council: Rockwell Marietta (President), P. S. 
Newmeyer, P. J. Soisson, L. F. Ruth, S. S. Stahl, 
J. H. Paddock, William T. Buttermore, J. W. But- 
termore. 

Secretary: J. H. White. 

Treasurer : George W. McCartney. 

1895 Burgess: J. B. Kurtz. 

Council: Rockwell Marietta (President), S. F. Hood, 
W. S. Hood, W. A. Bishop, S. S. Stahl. P. J. Sois- 
son, William T. Buttermore, J. W. Buttermore. 

Secretary : Raymond Coll. 

Treasurer : The Yougli Bank. 

1896 Burgess: J. B. Kurtz. 



CIVIC DEVELOPMENT K'S 



Council: Rockwell Marietta (President). S. F. Hood, 
W. S. Hood, W. T. Buttermore, Michael Hurley, 
Joseph W. Williams, Clair Stillwagon. 

Secretary: H. A. Crow. 

Treasurer : I. W. Rutter. 

1897 Burgess: J. S. Bryner. 

Council: Rockwell Marietta (President), C. M. 
Hyatt, J. W. Williams, Clair Stillwagon, M. Hur- 
ley. L. E. Bishop. J. B. Echard. J. F. Holland. 

Secretary : H. A. Crow. 

Treasurer: L W. Rutter. 

1898 Burgess : J. S. Bryner. 

Council: Clair Stillwagon (President). J. E. Rey- 
nolds. L. E. Bishop. J. E. Holland. C. M. Hyatt, 
Michael Madigan, J. B. Echard, Joseph D. Wilson. 

Secretary: J. B. Skinner. 

Treasurer: L W. Rutter. 

1899 Burgess: J. S. Bryner. 

Council: tlair Stillwagon (President), J. E. Rey- 
nolds, C. B. McCormick, IMichael Madigan, Jesse 
Handcock, ^Marcus ^Marietta. Joseph D. Wilson, 
Jacob Brickman. 

Secretary: George B. Brown. 

Treasurer : I. W. Rutter. 

1900 Burgess: J. B. Kurtz. 

Council: Clair Stillwagon (President). C. B. McCor- 
mick. C. M. Hyatt. John Davidson, Jr., Marcus 
Marietta, Jacob Brickman, J. S. Norris. 

Secretary: George B. Brown. 

Treasurer: L W. Rutter. 

1901 Burgess : J. B. Kurtz. 

Council: Clair Stillwagon (President). C. M. Hyatt. 
Geo. Porter. John Davidson, W. H. Hugus, Mar- 
cus Marietta. A. C. Jones. A. D. Soisson. 

Secretary : George B. Brown. 

Treasurer: L W. Rutter. 

1902 Burgess: J. B. Kurtz. 



106 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Council: Clair Stillwagon (President), George Por- 
ter, E. N. Stahl. W. H. Hugiis, F. R. Bradford, 
Marcus Marrietta, D. R. Smeach, A. D. Soisson. 

Secretary: George B. Brown. 

Treasurer: I. W. Rutter. 
1903 Burgess: Charles W. Patterson. 

Council : George Porter ( President ) . 

First ward — George Porter, E. X. Stahl. 

Second ward — W. D. Anderson, John Davidson. 

Third ward — William L. Buttermore, Clair Still- 
\vagon, William McCormick. 

Fourth ward— J. C. Lytle, J. S. Marietta, Robert 
Felty. 

Secretary : George B. Brown. 

Treasurer : 1. W. Rutter. 
1904: Burgess: C. W. Patterson. 

Council: Clair Stillwagon (President). 

First Ward— George Porter, E. N. Stahl, J. W. 
Stouffer. 

Second ward — Walter Adams, Nicholas Hoye. 

Third ward — William Buttermore, Clair Stillwagon, 
William McCormick. 

Fourth Ward— J. C. Lytle, J. S. Marietta, Robert 
Felty. 

Clerk: George B. Brown. 

Treasurer : L W. Rutter. 
1905 Burgess : C. W. Patterson. 

Council: Clair Stillwagon (President). 

First ward — George Porter, John Dean. 

Second ward — Walter J. Adams, Nicholas Hoye. 

Third ward — Clair Stillwagon, William McCormick. 

Fourth ward — Robert Felty, James S. Marietta. 

Clerk : Georoe B. Brown. 

Treasurer : 1. W. Rutter. 
190G Burgess : A. D. Soisson. 

Council: Clair Stillwagon (President). 

First ward — Tohn Dean, George Porter. 



CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 10' 



Second ward — Weaker Adams, X'icholas Hove. 
Third ward — William McCormick, Clair Stillwagon^ 
Fourth ward — Robert Feltv, J. S. ^vlarietta. 
Clerk: W. D. McGinnis. ' 
Treasurer : I. \\'. Rutter. 

STREET PAVING. 

The visitors who came to Coiinellsville previous to the 
year 1892, no doubt thought that our founder had chosen 
a very appropriate name, when he directed the State author- 
ities to name the patent for this place "Mud Island." 

In summer the streets were covered with fine dust and 
in winter coated with a thick layer of mud. The color of 
this mud and dust depended on the special taste of the pre- 
ceding Council. One year it would be yellow, due to the 
taste of the sandstone Council ; another year it would be 
black, due to the coke cinder Council ; the next year it would 
be a hard guess to tell the color, as that Council would haul 
anything on the streets that would fill the mud holes. IJut 
all this began to change, when Council passed its first ordi- 
nance for paving and curbing Main street from Arch street 
to Pittsburgh street on June 22, 1892. The Council, not 
satisfied with its good work at this meeting, proceeded to 
pass an ordinance for the paving and curbing of Peach 
street from AVater street to Pittsburgh street at the same 
meeting. Council authorized the paving of Pittsburgh 
street from Green street to Gibson avenue June 20, 1893. 
The paving of this street led to considerable trouble and to 
some legal controversies, due to certain defects in the peti- 
tion and the assessments, but the differences were finally 
compromised, and all the property holders with a few excep- 
tions paid their assessments. Water street was paved in 
1896. Prospect street was paved in 1899. 

From that date on. the Council has paved a number 
of streets and alleys each year, until nearly all the streets 
and alleys of the town are paved with vitrified brick. There 
are now^ in the Borough over (5 miles of paved streets and' 
allevs. 




OLD BRIMSTONE CORNERS. 



CIVIC DE\'ELOPMENT 109 

SEWERS. 

One of the requisites for the success of a town is a 
sewerage system, not only from the standpoint of good 
health, but also from a business view. The first sewer con- 
structed in Connellsville extended from the river up Peach 
street to Pittsburgh street. It was jointly owned bv Col. 
J. M. Reed and Dr. J. J. Singer and was constructed in the 
spring of 1885. Other sewers were constructed by the 
School Board for the use of the school l:)uilding, and other 
private parties. 

On Tune 22, 189->, H. P. Berryhill was granted by 
Council the right to construct and maintain a system of 
sewers on certain streets of the Borough. 

The companv organized to do this work was known 
as the Connellsville Sewer Company. They at once pro- 
ceeded to construct a sewer from the river up ^Tain street 
to Snyder street, then soon after up Apple street to Pitts- 
burgh street ; then on Pittsburgh from Apple street to the 
Porter building ; then on Arch street from Apple to Orchard 
alley ; then on Orchard alley from Arch street to Prospect 
street. 

The sewers constructed by this Company were pur- 
chased bv the Borough in 19i)0. These sewers then be- 
came a part of the general system of sewers as planned 
to cover the entire Borough. By an ordinance passed 
August 6, 1900. the Alain street sewer was extended to the 
Borough line. An election was held on July 9. 1900 on the 
ciuestion of increasing the Borough's indebtedness $75,000 
for the purpose of constructing a complete system of sewers. 
The people voted in favor of the system of sewers as planned 
bv the Borough engineer. The Council passed an ordi- 
nance on September 7, 1900. to issue coupon bonds to the 
amount of $75,000 to execute the will of the people. 

An attempt was made to sell these bonds at 3^ 
per cent interest, but on account of the condition of the 
money market, the rate of interest had to be increased to 
■4 per cent by a revised ordinance passed October 15, 1900. 



110 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

For the purpose of paying the interest and Hquidating the 
principle of these honds, an annual tax of two mills, com- 
mencing' in 1901, and to continue until the bonds are paid, 
was levied and assessed. The interest and principle of these 
.bonds were directed to be paid at the Union Trust Company 
■of Pittsburgh, Pa. The Borough reserved the right and 
privilege to redeem at par and accrued interest, any or all 
of these bonds after five years. During the next year all 
the money was expended in constructing sewers on all the 
main streets and on a number of the alleys of the town. 
The total length of all the sewers of the town is 19 3-10 
miles, so that today this town can boast of one of the most 
complete systems of sewers to be found in any town of its 
size in this state. 

PAPER CURRENCY. 

Few people are aware of the fact that the Borough 
Council once in its history assumed the high obligation of 
placing in circulation paper currency. 

On June 11, 181G, a motion was passed to have bills 
of currency struck for the Borough of Connellsville, and 
at this meeting Isaac Mears was appointed to ascertain the 
easiest plan and best mode of having this currency pre- 
pared. 

On June 21, ISIG, he reported to Council that the eas- 
iest way was to have the bills of currency printed. 

On July 9, 181(J, the following ordinance was passed 
by Council for printing and issuing small paper money for 
change : 

"Whereas, great inconveniences have occurred in this 
Borough and its vicinity for want of small change of a 
suitable character since silver coin has ceased to be the 
circulating medium, therefore to remedy the same as weh 
as other great evils in existence, viz : The circulation of 
various small notes of doubtful character and to which very 
small confidence is generally attached, it is deemed to have 
l)ecome necessary and expedient to issue small notes from 



CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 111 

the Treasury of this LJorough for the purpose of small 
change; to effect which object, 

First — Be it ordained by the Town Council of the 
Borough of Connellsville and it is hereby ordained by the 
authority of the same that there shall be a quantity of notes 
printed as soon as practicable at the expense of the Bor- 
ough, to an amount which shall alwavs appear on the Treas- 
urer's books, the description of which notes to be as follows: 
notes of o() cents each, notes of "35 cents each, notes of 12^ 
cents each, notes of (534 cents each, made payable to bearer 
on demand, at the Borough Treasurer in Current liank 
paper. 

Second — And be it further ordained bv the authority, 
aforesaid that all the notes which may be issued shall be 
signed by the Burgess, and countersigned by the Treasurer, 
whose duty it shall be to sign the same in behalf of the Cor- 
poration. 

Third — And be it further ordained by the Authority 
aforesaid, that as soon as these notes can be made ready, 
the Treasurer shall issue them in exchange for species, if 
any is offered, or for Current Bank paper to any person 
applying for them, but shall not in any case let them out on 
a loan. 

Fourth — Be it further ordained by the Authority, afore- 
said, that the money arising from the sale or exchange of 
notes as aforesaid, shall be and remain inviolable 
from all appropriations for any expenses or out-layings of 
the Borough. exce])ting only for the procuring said notes, 
but it shall form a fund solely for the redemption of them 
until they are all called in. and redeemed as before ex- 
cepted. 

Fifth — Be it further ordained by the Authority, afore- 
said, that the tickets aforesaid shall be printed under the 
direction of the Burgess, which officer together with the 
Treasurer shall be entitled to and receive such compensa- 
tion for the services they may render, under and in pur- 
suance of this ordinance as shall be deemed adequate and 
reasonable by the Council." 



112 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSYILLE 

Five members of the Council voted for this ordinance 
and two against it. But April -1, 1817, the Council sold to 
John Lamb, all their interest in and all the Borough tickets 
issued or to be issued for his own proper use, on the con- 
dition that he should pay one hundred dollars to the said 
Council and insure them against any expense or damage 
in consecjuence of their distribution or redemption. This 
is the last account we have of the Borough transacting a 
banking business of its own and judging from the brief time 
it conducted it, no doubt it proved a complete failure. 

WATER WORKS. 

For a number of years, the water cjuestion had been 
an important subject to all the residents of the Borough. 
Up to this time the citizens had obtained their supply of 
water from springs and wells, but as the number of inhab- 
itants increased the danger of contamination of this kind 
of water supply increased in like proportion. What to do 
and how to do it, had been an open c[uestion when W. S. 
Kuhn made a proposition to supply the town with pure 
mountain water from mountain springs. This proposition 
was finally reduced to a contract which, on March 29, 1883, 
was duly signed by the Borough Council of the first part 
and W. S. Kuhn and his associates of the second part. This 
contract gave the Water Company the privilege of laying 
water pipes beneath the surface of the highways of the 
Borough, with all necessary facilities and privileges for 
laying and repairing said water pipes. For this privilege 
W. S. Kuhn and his associates "agree and bind themselves 
and their successors under the penalty of forfeiting all their 
rights under this agreement," 

First — To repair all damage occuring to the surface 
of said highways in the exercise of said privilege of laying 
the water pipes. 

Second — To furnish to every citizen requiring it, with- 
in the limits of their occupancy of said highways, a con- 
stant and sufiicient supply of pure water for ordinarv house 



CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 113 

visfc, upon condition of such citizens paying to them Cjuar- 
terly, in advance of the yearly charge for water privileges, 
to the said parties of the second part, as shown in the fol- 
lowing schedule of yearly prices : Dwelling house for one 
family, for the first faucet $5.40 and for each additional 
faucet $2.25; for the first bath tub $;>.G0 ; for the first set 
for water closet $3.60, each additional $2.25. 

The maximum charge for a single family, including 
stable for four horses and use of hose, shall be $22.50. When 
a meter is used the charge is 27 cents for one thousand gal- 
lons. This contract calls for the erection of 50 fire hydrants 
for the yearly sum of $16.25 each, the second 50 to cost 
$25.00 each, and all over 100 hydrants $22.50 each. The 
water line to be extended to any part of the Borough where 
the annual receipts will amount to 10 per cent of the cost 
of the line. 

Article 9th is of special importance since it is so fre- 
quently referred to and discussed by our citizens. 

Article 9th. — It is further understood and agreed by 
the parties of this contract that the same shall continue 
in full force and effect for and during the period of twenty- 
five (25) years from ]\Iarch 29, 18S3, with privilege for 
party of the first part to purchase these water works on 
or after fifteen (15) years at a fair appraisement, made by 
three disinterested parties, one selected by the party of the 
first part, one person bv party of the second part, these 
two to select the third. 

This contract is signed by T. W. Rutter, President. P. 
J. Harrigan, W. H. Hugus and J. H. Purely for the Coun- 
cil, and W. S. Kuhn for the Water Company. 

PITTSBURGH AND CONNELLSVILLE RAILROAD. 

Transportation by rail or by water has been 
one of the chief factors in the upbuilding of every 
important city. But all rules have their exceptions, 
and for a time this applied to Connellsville. The 
population of 1553 in 1850 was reduced to 996 in 1860, a 



CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 115 

direct loss in ten years of 557 persons. Even in 1870 there 
w^ere but 1292 residents, so that it required more than 20 
years for the town to recover from the effect of the en- 
trance of the railroad. The cause was not the railroad, but 
the debt contracted by the Council to obtain the road. The 
ordinance placed a debt upon the Borough so heavy that 
it frightened many of the inhabitants away. Some of them 
believed when the Sheriff" would come to collect the in- 
terest and principal of the bonds, nothing would be left. 
We are told that at every time the shrill whistle of the loco- 
motive was heard in our valley an inhabitant immediately 
got up and left the town. Little the wonder it was so, when 
we learn that each passenger engineer blew his whistle 20 
minutes continuously before the departure of his train to 
notify the inhabitants of the time of his going. 

Time has also changed the freight shipments of this 
region ; the first car-load of freight consisted of 500 hoop 
poles and 500 pounds of buckwheat flour shipped by James 
Stafford of town and John Kooser of Springfield. The 
Town Council on May 7, 1855, directed the Burgess to 
subscribe for 2000 shares of the capital stock of the Pitts- 
burg and Connellsville Railroad Company, the same to be 
paid in the bonds of the Borough. Each share of stock 
to be of the par value of fifty dollars. 

This act placed a bonded debt of $100,000 upon the 
Borough. It is doubtful if all the property of the town, at 
a forced sale, would have brought this figure at that time. 

The total valuation of taxable property in 1860 was 
$18,-1:80 or less than one-half of the bonded debt of the 
Borough. In 1860. ^lay 31, the Council laid a special rail- 
road bond tax. of 16 cents upon the dollar of valuation. If 
this tax had been all collected it would have furnished the 
Council $7,756, but at the expiration of five years much of 
it was uncollected and uncollectable. x^fter much worry, 
many meetings of the Council, a number of public meet- 
ings of the citizens held in the different churches for coun- 
sel ; the emplovment of a number of different attorneys. 



CIVIC DEVELOPMENT 117 



some of whom gave them advise against their own interests ; 
trials in the Pittsl:)urg'h courts ; and much correspondence 
with the railroad officials, a compromise was agreed upon 
with President Latrobe. This compromise was that the 
Borough should pay to the Railroad Company the sum of 
$15,000 for the bonds, which were all to be returned to the 
Borough and to be destroyed, but the Borough was to re- 
tain the railroad stock. ( )f this stock some was sold to 
help pay this $15, 000 indebtedness, and the balance was 
divided among the tax payers, in proportion to the amount 
of the bonded tax that each taxpayer had paid. 

XEW HAVEN BOROL'GH. 

New Haven is located opposite Connellsville on the 
west bank of the Youghioghenv river. It is closelv con- 
nected with Connellsville in a business and social way, and 
the two boroughs are bound together Ijy a strong and sub- 
stantial iron bridge. 

As early as 1753 William Stewart lived on the west 
bank of the Youghiogheny. For this man Stewart's Cross- 
ing was named. 

The first white man to permanently locate here was 
William Crawford, who built his log cabin near what is 
now known as the Crawford spring, in the lower ])art of 
New Haven in 1(()5. A patent for the land was issued in 
the name of his son John, some four years later, for 376^ 
acres. John came into actual possession of this land after 
his father's death, and sold it to Edward Cook on Novem- 
ber :37, 17.S('). The next transfer was to Colonel Isaac Mea- 
son. Isaac Aleason's son was Isaac !Meascn, Jr., and was 
associated with his father in business. He erected a store 
building near the Crawford spring and did business there 
for a number of vears. 

Isaac Meason, Sr., is credited with being the richest 
man in this part of the country. Among the taxables for 
Dunbar Township in 1799, he is credited with 6400 acres 
of land, one foriie, one furnace, one grist mill, and two 



118 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



saw mills. His store was chiefly for his own employees as he 
practically owned everything on that side of the river. The 
Measons laid out New Haven in 1796, but the town did not 
grow fast, and did not succeed in obtaining a post office until 
1878. In 1815 it contained but two streets and about 100 
inhabitants. 

The town in its early history had a great number of 
ups and downs ; first were its prosperous days under the 
success of the woolen manufactories, then under the Orth 
Brothers in manufacturing clothing for the army, then the 
National Locomotive works, each had their day of pros- 
perity, and each in turn ended in failure. 

In 1839 at the March session of Court a petition was 
presented, praying for the incorporation of New Haven 
Borough, signed by Thomas Foster, John Newcomer, Jr., 
George W. Vance. Daniel Rogers, James Robinson, Val- 
entine Coughenour and others. 

The Grand Jury reported favorably, and, on June 7, 
1839, the report was confirmed by Court. Opposition arose 
at once to the adoption of the charter by those who thought 
their taxes would be increased. By legal action it was de- 
ferred until 184:2. In that year an election was held in the 
school house and William McFarland was chosen Burgess 
and R. A. Mcllvain weighmaster. 

Before the Council elected could meet and organize, 
they were informed by an anonymous letter, that, if they 
did organize, the town would be burned. The letter had its 
desired efi^ect, it so frightened the Councilmen, that they 
never made even an attempt to organize. This election and 
charter therefore failed for want of action. 

No attempt was then made until March li, 18G7, when 
Court again issued a decree authorizing the organization 
of the Borough under the charter of 1839, and appointed 
W. H. Brown, Judge, J. V. Rhodes and S. G. Smutz in- 
spectors, to hold an election for Borough officers on Fri- 
day, March 29, 1867, and appointed Hugh Cameron to give 
notice of said election according to law. 



CI\'IC DEVELOPMENT 119 



At this election S. G. Smutz was elected Burgess, R. 
A. Mcllvain, George Nickel, J. \'. Rhodes, J. M. Lytle 
and Hugh Cameron, Councilmen. W. H. Brown was elected 
Constable, George J. Ashman was elected Treasurer. This 
is the list of officers elected at the first election for the per- 
manent organization of the Borough of New Haven. 

The present officers of 1906 are : Burgess, Samuel E. 
Nelson. Members of Council, J. R. Balsley, President; 
Robert Sheppard, Harmon Hays, B. D. Shoemaker, Reason 
Moore, Samuel Torrence, Aleck McBeth. 



CHAPTER I\^ 

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 

The early settlers along the Yough were friends of 
education. Though they were, for the most part, plain, 
hard-working men, living in a comparative wilderness, en- 
gaged in laborious and incessant toil and exposed to dan- 
gers from wild beasts and savages, they believed that edu- 
cation was necessary to the public welfare. Accordingly, 
they built school houses in all the settlements at the earliest 
possible date. These were of necessity humble structures. 
They were usually of unhewn logs. The seats were made 
of trees split in two, and placed with the flat side upon long 
pegs, and the windows were generally made of greased 
paper, admitting but little light. The course of study em- 
braced but little else than "the three R's." The teachers 
were often rude in their manners and meagre in their 
attainments. But there were devoted men among them who 
did faithful work, wielded great influence and contributed 
their share to the moral and intellectual advancement of the 
community. In all these efl^orts to establish schools, the 
pioneers or our region were acting in harmony with the 
founders of the commonwealth. In his Plan of Government 
for the Colony of Pennsylvania, William Penn gave order 
that education should be "carefully propagated." He 
directed that "the Governor and Provincial Council should 
erect and order all public schools," and that "all persons 
having children and all the guardians and trustees of 
orphans shall cause such to be instructed in reading and 
writing that they may be able to read the Scriptures and 
to write by the time that they attain to twelve years of age," 
— the penalty of neglect being a fine of Five Pounds ($20). 

The provisonal constitution of 1T7'G required that 

120 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 1'21 



schools should be established in every county, and. in the 
constitution of 1790. it was provided that '"the legislature, 
as soon as may be, shall provide by law for the establish- 
ment of schools throughout the state, in such manner that 
the poor may be taught gratis."' Legislation was tardy and, 
for many years, inefficient ; yet schools sprang up and multi- 
plied in the frontier regions of western Pennsylvania. Even 
classical schools here and there came into existence. These 
were generally established and taught by pastors. Several 
were in what is now Washington county, as that of Rev. 
Thaddeus Dodd. opened in 17,S-.\ on Ten ^lile Creek; that 
of Rev. fohn ]\IcMillan. opened at about the same date at 
Chartiers, and that of Rev. Joseph Smith, on Buffalo Creek. 
At least one such classical school was opened in Fayette 
county. It was located in Dunbar township — on the old 
Tanner farm — and was opened in VtiU by the Rev. James 
Dunlap, pastor of the Laurel HiU Presbyterian church, 
assisted by Air. William Littell. The preceptors announced 
that they would teach Latin, Greek and Hebrew, elocution, 
grammar, mathematics, natural and moral philosophy, logic, 
civil history, rhetoric ; and stated that pupils from a distance 
could have "boarding, washing, et cetera at reputable 
houses in the neighborhood, at the low rate of ten pounds 
per annum." This school continued until 1803, when Rev. 
Mr. Dunlap accepted the presidency of Jefferson College, 
Canonsburg, Pa. 

As to the ordinary schools of that period, we know 
little, — though we have good reason to believe that our own 
town of Connellsville enjoyed educational privileges before 
its incorporation as a borough. Air. Zachariah Connell 
showed himself a friend of education and a public-spirited 
man when, in the Town Charter, executed March 21, 17'.);), 
he appropriated two lots, Nos. 88 and IXi on the town plot, 
as "a commodious seat" whereon his fellow^ townsmen 
might erect "a house or houses for public worship and school 
or schools," "free and clean of purchase money or ground- 
rent." These lots he granted "forever to the inhabitants of 



122 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CON NELLS\TLL]-; 

said town, their heirs and successors, to be held in common 
for the purpose aforesaid, or jointly, as the inhabitants may 
choose." Mr. Alexander Addison, some years afterward, 
purchased from Mr. Connell two lots (T2 and 80) adjoin- 
ing the school lots on the east, and presented them to the 
Borough in 1812 "for the use of an English school or 
schools." These four lots were conveyed to the Borough 
by a deed dated May 30, 1812, signed by Zachariah Connell 
and Margaret his wife, and witnessed by Anthony Banning 
and George Mathiot. The lots form an oblong square con- 
taining one acre, bounded on the north by Fairview avenue, 
to use present-day names, on the south by South alley, on 
the east by Library avenue, and on the west by Pittsburgh 
street. They lie on an eminence which was originally much 
higher, having in recent years been cut down, and which 
was at one time known as Mount Puff. Pittsburgh street 
(then called Church street) extended no farther than what 
is now Church place. The "cut" had not yet been made, 
and a steep path led up the hill. 

When the Borough was incorporated in 180G, a school 
house stood on the hill, about where Pittsburgh street now 
passes through it. The school house referred to is known 
to have been in existence in March, 1804. According to an 
old record a Bullskin township election was held in it on the 
third Saturday of that month, but the date of its erection 
we are not al)le to give. It was built by subscription of the 
townspeople, was built of logs, was built on Mount Puff, 
and did duty until October 9, 1829, when it was wrecked by 
fire. The "wreck" was sold at public outcry soon after, 
the auctioneer receiving one dollar for his services, but, for 
some reason, not receiving it until the fifth of the following 
May. We know little of the surroundings of the old log 
school house. A burial ground stood on the southern side 
of the school. As early as 1806, the pupils could look with 
awe upon the graveyard, as it was called, and see quite a 
number of graves, some of them with white or brown head- 
stones. Eight vears later, thev mav have been entertained 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 123 



at recess by watching the stray hogs being ignoniiniouslv 
thrust into a hog pound that had just been erected by the 
Borough officials on the northeast corner of the school 
grounds, and next to a hop yard known as Barnhart's. The 
pupils who ventured close enough to the hog pound to exam- 
ine it, would find that it had "a good gate and iron hinges." 

We know little of the school-room furniture. Xine 
years after the incorporation of the Borough, two writing 
tables, fifteen feet long and seventeen inches wide, were 
ordered to be made for the school. These were merelv 
boards fastened to the walls at which the older pupils sar 
to practice penmanship, while their younger and smaller 
fellow students sat on rude benches with no desks at all. 
These wall-desks needed to have "a suitable slant" for good 
writing, and the benches were generally too high for phys- 
ical comfort. 

The school house had been erected by popular sub- 
scription, but in ( )ctober, 1S06, the people asked that the 
Burgess and Borough Council should take charge of it, 
and six months later (April 2, 1807,) an ordinance was 
passed granting the request of the people, vesting" the right 
and control of the school and school property in the Bur- 
gess and Council. Thus the Borough Council directed and 
managed the school, keeping the property in repair, employ- 
ing teachers and doing whatever else might be needed, and 
this relationship continued for twenty-eight years. The 
schools of the Borough were under the jurisdiction of the 
Council until the enactment of the Common School Law in 
1834: by the Pennsylvania legislature. 

The attendance during this period could not have been 
large. An old record (1819) intimates that there were 
sometimes rival teachers who secured more or less patron- 
age, and received encouragement from members of Coun- 
cil. A Borough ordinance inflicted a fine of twenty dollars 
on such members of Council, an ordinance which was re- 
pealed in 1819. About thirty pupils attended the Borough 
school during the quarter ending in February, 1821. Two- 



134 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

years later the number rose to thirty-five. The teachers 
employed by the Council, so far as the Council records 
show, were Andrew Donogh (first mentioned in 1807). 
Benjamin Evans, Oliver Sproul, William Beatty, Seth Elias, 
George Bell, Dennis O'Keefe, William Clemens, Messrs. 
Fleming, Lewis and McLaughlin, the last-named teacher 
appearing in the record in July, 1S28. What appointments 
were made in the six years that remained of the Council's 
control of the school, we do not know. Sometimes there 
seemed to be a difficulty in finding teachers. Council now 
and then advertised for a teacher, but as a rule there were 
applicants. 

The man who "was permitted to teach in the Borough 
School House" visited the citizens and took subscriptions, 
the subscribers agreeing to send one or more ])upils to the 
school for the quarter or the year and to pay a certain 
amount for each pupil. In some cases, the amount was 
two dollars, sixty-two and a half cents for each pupil 
twelve and a half cents of which amount went to the Coun- 
cil for the rent of the school house. Sometimes the teacher 
was required to give bond for "the payment of twelve and 
a half cents per quarter for every scholar which may be 
sent to school." The rents were applied by Council to 
repairs and the maintenance of the building, though it 
more than once occurred that a teacher was given the use 
of the building "without rent, he to make all repairs," and to 
allow elections and public meetings to be held in it. The 
teacher was his own janitor, making fires, cleaning, sweep- 
ing, keeping the house in order with his own hands or at 
his own expense. The State Law of 181 i) made provision 
that "indigent children" might be admitted to the schools 
at the public expense. The indications are, however, that 
not many of that class applied for admission to the log 
school house on Mount Pufif. Here, as in most other com- 
munities, few were found who were willing to humilate 
themselves by announcing their poverty to the public author- 
ities. 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 125 

The schools of the period referred to were commonly 
stvled "pav schools," and "subscription schools," and their 
patrons were "subscribers." A subscription list, dated X'o- 
vember, 1820, contains the names of twenty-five of the resi- 
dents of the Borough, with the number of children each 
of them agreed to send to school, and the amount to be paid 
per scholar to the teacher, Mr. Dennis O'Keefe. The list 
is as follows : 

Scholars Scholars 

Jonathan Page 2^ James Inglis 1 

H. Gebhart 1 S. G. Wurtz 2 

Adam Snider 1 Samuel Sharpies 1 

Sarah Keepers 1 James Carr 2 

Nancy White 1 James Noble 1 

Clement Smith 1 Michael Gilmore 1 

John Talbot 1 Daniel Coughenour .... 1 

James Johnston 1 Encal Clayton 1 

Alexander Johnston . . 1 ^2 William Little >2 

George ]\Iarietta 1>2 Esther Campbell 1 

John Salyards 1 James McBride 1 

Daniel Harshman ....1 Alfred McCormick. . . .1 

Hiram Herbert 2 

Scholars, oO. 

LESTER L. NORTON, 
Treasurer of the Borough of Connellsville. 

The above is a correct return of the Borough School 
for the third quarter, ending in February, 1821. 

Yours with respect, 

D. O'KEEFE." 

(The half scholar, in the above list, is a scholar that 
was to attend the school half time.) 

Mr. O'Keefe taught reading, writing, spelling, gram- 
mar and arithmetic. We do not know what text-books he 
used — perhaps "The Western Spelhng Book," which had 
been extensively in use for ten years, or "The L^iited States 
Spelling Book," prepared "by sundry experienced teachers," 
and published in 1811. In arithmetic, it may be that he 



126 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

used Stockton's "Western Calculator," which at the time 
had passed through several editions. His pupils may have 
had frecjuent occasion to quote the old-time saying : 

"Multiplication is vexation, 
Division is as bad, 
The rule of three perplexes me, 
And fractions drive me mad." 

It may be noted that, in the schools of by-gone days, it 
was no uncommon thing for problems to be put into poetic 
iorm : 

"If to my age there added be 
One-half, one-third and three times three, 
Six score and ten the sum would be ; 
What is my age? Pray, show it me." 

"Just sixteen yards of German serge 
For ninety dimes had I ; 
How many yards of that same cloth 
W^ould fourteen eagles buy?" 

When Mr. O'Keefe came to the writing lesson, he was 
"kept busy. He had to set the headlines, make the straight 
strokes, the pot-hooks, the hangers, the small hand. He 
had to see to it that his pupils had each a goose quill, for 
there were no steel pens. Mr. Gillot did not make steel 
pens until the very year Mr. O'Keefe began teaching in 
Connellsville. The pupils brought the quills, but the teacher 
had to sharpen them and keep them in order. As for pun- 
ishments, a rod was considered an indispensable article of 
school furniture. Whether of birch or of hickory, it was 
freely used. The schoolmaster often carried the rod in 
his hand as he moved about the room. Sometimes he kept 
a collection of rods on the wall — rods of different length 
and the thickness to suit the age and size of youthful 
offenders. Sometimes a listless, sluggish pupil was put upon 
a dunce-block, with a fool's cap on and a pair of leather 
^spectacles. 




THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE UNION SCHOOL. 



128 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

The pupil who violated the rules was made to stand 
on a chair or bench, often to stand on one foot. A scourge,, 
made of strips of leather and called the tazvs, was a favorite 
instrument of punishment in some schools. Boxing the ears 
was at times resorted to as an effective way of securing 
order. All in all, the rod was the chief means of discipline. 
It was applied with great zeal, and few there were in the 
schools who were not well acquainted with it. It was used 
to punish all manner of offences, whatever the degree, and 
not infrequently a victim could not have told what he was 
being whipped for. There was another punishment for the 
boys of the school — and that was the sending of a boy to the 
other side of the school room to sit with the girls, a punish- 
ment to which some of the boys submitted with good grace 
and hearty resignation. 

We have already referred to the "wrecking" of the old 
log school house on the !)th of October, 1829. After that 
event, the Borough was without a school house of its own for 
a period of about ten years, all schools being held in rented 
rooms during that time. It is true that eft'orts were made 
from time to time to have a house erected. Four months 
after the old building was destroyed, a subscription was 
made by a goodly number of citizens toward a new building. 
The matter being brought before the Council, that body 
authorized the citizens to appoint a building committee and 
go forward with the work. Later, a remonstrance, signed 
by certain citizens, was presented to a special meeting of 
Council, and so, "with occasional resolutions by the Council 
to build a new school house, and remonstrances against the 
same by the inhabitants of the Borough, nothing was accom- 
plished," and year after year passed without a school build- 
ing. 

At this time the subject of popular education was being 
earnestly discussed throughout the State of Pennsylvania. 
The imperative need of a better system was widely felt. 
Laws had been enacted, but they were "limited in their 
application and local in their object." Education was largely 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 129 

left to voluntary effort. There was no efficient plan for fur- 
nishing to the people systematic opportunity of study, while 
for the poor the provision made by law was ineffectual. The 
schools languished and declined in influence. The Penn- 
sylvania society for the promotion of public schools, in a 
document published in 1839 (shortly after our log school 
house was wrecked ) , made the statement that out of four 
hundred thousand children in the State of Pennsvlvania 
between the ages of five and fifteen, "more than two hun- 
dred and fifty thousand, capable of receiving instruction, 
were not within a school during the last year." Wise men 
and women were alarmed. The future was imperilled. A 
"judicious, well-arranged system of universal education," 
such as was contemplated by the framers of the State Con- 
stitution, could not be too soon adopted and too faithfully 
carried into effect. There was much agitation of the sub- 
ject — in meetings of educators, in papers and pamphlets and 
in the Legislature. Governors, one after another, spoke 
of the subject in their inaugural addresses and in their exec- 
utive messages at the opening of each successive session 
of the Legislature, strongly recommending a more liberal 
and enlightened system of education. It was reserved for 
Governor George Wolf, the sevendi Governor of the State 
and a Pennsylvania German, to secure the enactment of a 
law which, with certain amendments and additions, has 
given us our present splendid and eminently successful sys- 
tem of public schools. He had for years, in public and in 
private, advocated such a law, and from the time he took 
the gubernatorial chair on the 15th of December, 1829, 
he lost no opportunity to advocate this as "the cherished 
purpose of his administration," and as a measure second to 
none in its "importance to the general prosperity and happi- 
ness of the people of the Commonwealth, to the cause of 
public virtue and of public morals, to the hopes and expec- 
tations of the rising generation to whom the future political 
destinies of the Repubhc are to be committed. Nothing," 
he said, "will add so much to the sum of individual and so- 



130 CENTENNIy\.L HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

cial improvement and comfort as a general diffusion of 
the means of moral and intellectual cultivation among all 
classes of our citizens." 

The Governor met with wide-spread and determined 
opposition on the part of various classes of people, but with 
unfailing perseverance and earnestness he labored on in 
behalf of his favorite measure. He secured an Act of 
Legislature, in the session of 1831-33, levying a tax for 
a school fund. A year later, he secured the appointment 
of a commission "to collect all the information and possess 
themselves of all the facts and knowledge that can be ob- 
tained from any quarter having a bearing upon or con- 
nection with the subject of education, and to arrange and 
embody the same in a report to be transmitted to the Leg- 
islature at the next session for examination and final action 
thereon." 

That commission, composed of thoroughly competent 
men, brought in an elaborate report of their investigations 
and asserted that a system of common schools, "sustained 
and encouraged by the public bounty," is superior "to every 
other plan of education of a private or partial character." 

A bill was drawn. It embodied what was regarded 
as the best features of the systems most successful in other 
States. It passed both houses of the Legislature by a very 
large majority. Governor Wolf gratefully said: "It passed 
both branches of the Legislature with a unanimity rarely 
ecjualled, perhaps never surpassed, in the annals of legisla- 
tion." And so came into existence the law to which our 
State owes so much of its progress and happiness. 

THE COMMON SCHOOL LAW OF 1834. 

But if Governor Wolf was the founder of our com- 
mon school system, he ntay also be called its defender and 
preserver at a crisis when it was in danger of being over- 
thrown. A fierce effort was made by its enemies to strangle 
it in its cradle. This effort was made the very next year 
after the law had been enacted, at the next session of the 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 131 

Legislature, the session of IS'^lo. Xotwithstanding the very 
large majority by which the bill had been passed, there 
was continued an even intensified opposition to it in many 
quarters. A bitter sentiment rapidly developed, and an 
alarming attempt was made in the Legislature to repeal 
the new law, and to re-establish the old svstem of sub- 
scription schools. The attempt would, in all probability, have 
been successful but for the untiring exertions of Governor 
Wolf and the powerful speech of Mr. Thaddeus Stevens, 
who, in later years, became a leader in the Lower House 
of the National Congress, and was admiringly styled by his 
party The Great Commoner. ( )ne who heard Mr. Stevens' 
speech has described the orator standing in the broad, mid- 
dle aisle just in front of the presiding officer's desk, his 
face all aglow, his voice quivering with emotion, his feeble 
frame swaying back and forth and seeming to have taken 
on supernatural strength, his hearers awed and motionless. 
In closing his speech, he referred to the fact that Governor 
Wolf belonged to a different political party from that to 
which he belonged himself, and added: "He has been 
guilty of many deep political sins, but he deserves the undy- 
ing gratitude of the people for the steady, untiring zeal 
which he has manifested in favor of common schools.* * * 
I trust that the people of this State will never be called on 
to choose between a supporter and an opposer of free 
schools. But, if it should come to that; if that should be 
made the turning-point on which we are to cast our suff- 
rages ; if the opponent of education were my most intimate 
personal and political friend and the free school candidate 
my most obnoxious enemy, I should deem it my duty, as 
a patriot, at this moment of our intellectual crisis, to forget 
all other considerations, and I should place myself unhesi- 
tatingly and cordially in the ranks of him whose banner 
streams in light." 

When the vote was taken, it was found that the friends 
of common schools had carried the day. 

The arguments against the Law of 1834 seem trifling 



132 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

in the present day, but they carried great weight at the 
time and were Hstened to with great attention. The taxes, 
it was urged, would be enormously increased. The people 
in general were able to pay for the schooling of their chil- 
dren and it would be reducing them to the level of paupers 
to give them the schooling free. The opposition was car- 
ried, in some communities, to great lengths. It was made 
a political issue here and there, and members of the Legis- 
lature of 1834 who voted for the law failed, not a few of 
them, to be re-elected. Severe language was used. Offen- 
sive epithets were hurled at the supporters of the law. At 
least one legislator who voted for the bill was hanged in 
effigy. Mr. Christian Ruth, formerly of Philadelphia, now . 
a resident of Connellsville, remembers a riot which he wit- 
nessed in the vicinity of the first school house opened in 
Philadelphia under the new law. For two or three days 
the disorder continued in the neighborhood of the building, 
corner Third and Master streets. The house was assailed, 
many people were injured, the whole city became excited, 
and the military had to be called out to disperse the crowds 
and restore order. The new law made it optional with 
each district whether to accept its provisions or to reject 
them. Manv districts were slow to avail themselves of the 
benefits and opportunities of the free school system. Of nine 
hundred and seven school districts in 1836, five hundred 
and thirtv-six accepted the system, three hundred and sev- 
enty-one did not accept it, and several years elapsed before 
it was in universal operation. But Connellsville accepted it 
promptly. There were grumblers and doubters, and there 
were those who refused to send their children to the free 
schools, but the majority of the citizens voted to adopt the 
system as a marvelous improvement upon the old. The 
citizens having so decided, the Court of Fayette county, at 
the January term, 1835, acting in conformity with the re- 
quirements of the law, transferred the schools of the Bor- 
ough and township to a Board of School Directors, em- 
powered it to levy taxes for school purposes, to receive a 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION: 133 



due share of the State appropriation and to have undivided 
authority over the schools and the school property. The 
Court appointed William Davidson and Henry W. Lewis 
directors, and two months later an election was held, in 
compliance with the law, resulting in the choice of Valen- 
tine Coughenour and James G. Turner. These first direc- 
tors were men of ability and prominence. Mr. Davidson 
had served several years in the Legislature and had been 
speaker of the House in 1818. Mr. Lewis was an English- 
man of education and talent who had been a lawyer. Messrs. 
Coughenour and Turner were influential citizens and mem- 
bers of Council. 

The subject of building school houses was taken up 
afresh. In 1838, Dr. Lutellus Lindley and Mr. John Ful- 
ler were elected directors. Dr. Lindley, a native of Ohio, 
had been located in our town only four years, but had al- 
read}^ become a leading physician and a highly esteemed 
citizen. Mr. Fuller, a tanner by trade, was three times a 
member of the Legislature and was a member of the Con- 
stitutional Convention of 1838. These directors urged the 
importance of securing new buildings, and their efforts were 
crowned with success, for during their term of office three 
school houses were erected, and opened as the property 
of the Board. These were one storied, one roomed brick 
buildings, each about twenty-six feet sciuare. 

They are referred to in the records as Nos. 1, 2 and 3. 
No. 1 was popularly known as the school on the Pinnacle, 
standing on Snyder street. The brick was made from clay 
in the immediate neighborhood. This building still stands. 
On ceasing to be used as a school house, it was sold to the 
late John K. Brown, and by his heirs to Clair Still- 
wagon, whose father, the late William P. Stillwagon, 
had at one time taught school in it. It is now used as a 
dwelling. 

No. 2 was built on the school house grounds, near 
where the high school now stands. In the records, though 
generally styled school No. 3, it is sometimes spoken of 



134 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

as the school on Mount Puff and, in a few instances, as the 
scliool on Baldwin's hill. When it had served its day, it 
was turned into a home for the janitor and remained such 
for several years before it was taken down. 

School house No. 3 was located close to the Quaker 
burial ground on ground bought from Henry Black- 
stone. The ground was then outside the Borough limits, 
but was within a very short distance of the northwest cornei 
of the Borough, nearly opposite the present B. & O. water 
tanks, and in the point formed by the junction of Witter 
avenue and Favette street. The building was used exclu- 
sively by the township from 1852 until 1871, when it came 
into the Borough with the 51 acres added by the Connells- 
ville Building and Loan Association. It was variously 
known as "No. 3,"" "the Quaker Graveyard School," and 
"the North Bend School," the latter name having been 
given it from its location, overlooking a bend in the Yough 
River. It was sold by the school board, August 4, 1891, 
to Mrs. Catherine Cramer for $350, and was occupied as a 
dwelling until a few years ago when it was torn away 
and a two story frame dwelling erected on the site. 

It is a matter of regret that no school board records 
have been found earlier than March 30, 1848. It would be 
impossible to give an accurate list of teachers before that 
date. Even in the old log school house, there were teachers 
who are not mentioned in the Council minutes. One of these 
was Thomas McMullin, a Dunbar township man, afterward 
a farmer and County Commissioner, who taught in the log 
school house two or three years before it was destroyed. 
Our fellow-citizen, Mr. J. M. Lytle, attended Mr. McMul- 
lin's school at five years of age, and remembers him kindly 
as his first teacher. 

Among the early teachers were a Mr. Hunter, who 
became a physician, and another Mr. Hunter who was much 
given to pulling his pupils' ears ; Mr. Hugh Espey, of Ty- 
rone township, afterward County Treasurer ; a Mr. Brazee, 
an exceptionally good teacher, who used no rod ; Mr. Bud- 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 135 

ariah Page, familiarly known as "Bud" Page; Messrs. Mc- 
Giffin and Dare ; Robert Torrance who taught in his 
own house on Church, now Pittsburg street, and is said 
to have had as many as eighty pupils in his school; 
Nathaniel Walker, from Dunlap's Creek, and James 
Mcllvaine who taught No. 2, the new brick school on Mount 
PufT, in 18i0. 

Many of the teachers during the first thirty years or 
more of the Borough's history were from Ireland. Occa- 
sionally "the Yankee School Master" came, but much oft- 
ener "the Irish School Master" appeared in town and ap- 
plied for a school. They were from the north of Ireland, 
(Scotch-Irish), and though there were some excellent 
teachers among them, their brogue perplexed and amused 
the pupils, as they were told to stand upon "the flure," 
to be good or they would get "a baiting," and not to whit- 
tle "the boords." They were generally strict in discipline, 
and believed in the educational value of the rod. One of 
them, who taught in Connellsville and New Haven at in- 
tervals for twelve years or more, was noted as a disciplin- 
arian. 

"A man severe he w^as, and stern to view, — 
Well had the boding tremblers learned to trace 
The day's disasters in his morning face ; 
Full well they laugh'd with counterfeited glee 
At all his jokes, for many a joke had he." 
It was one of the favorite sa}'ings of this good man 
from Ulster as a warning to an idle or mischievous scholar: 
"I see it's a bit of the birch you're wanting. You'd better 
behave, or 3'ou'll get what you're workin' for." 

The building and opening of the three brick schools 
was an important and gratifying event in the educational 
history of our Borough, but wathin a few years the school 
population outgrew the accommodations. Rooms had to be 
rented, as in former days. At a meeting of the School 
Board held at T. G. Ewing's store on Monday evening, 
October 2, 1848, it was decided "to rent an extra house ;" 



136 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

other houses may have ah-eady been rented. At about this 
time, an additional building was advocated, and the Board, 
at a meeting in John Cooley's shop, Friday evening, March 
30, 1849, appointed John Cooley and Stephen Robbins a 
committee to make an estimate of the "cost of a brick house, 
sixty feet long, twenty-two feet wide and eight feet high, 
said house to be for the use of two schools." The state of 
the treasury was such that in order to build the house, it 
would be necessary either to levy an additional tax of 
"thirty cents on the one hundred dollars over and above 
what has heretofore been laid," or to close all the schools 
for a year. It was submitted to a vote of the people and on 
Saturday, May 13th, an "election" was held to decide the 
question of an additional tax, John Cooley acting as judge, 
Stephen Robbins inspector, and William Cooley and Mat- 
thew Seaton, clerks. When the vote was counted, it was 
found that thirteen of "the taxable inhabitants" had voted 
for the additional tax and that thirty-seven had voted against 
it. Notwithstanding this, the Board decided, eighteen 
days afterward, to advertise the sale of a contract for build- 
ing the house in question. On Saturday afternoon, June 
30. 181:9, bids were received and "the building of the school 
house" was "knocked off to John Shallenberger" for $550, 
he to find all the materials and "put the house up, everything 
complete, by the first day of November." The next Satur- 
day evening, July 7, the Board of directors received a 
remonstrance, signed by "many of the citizens," objecting 
to the location, claiming that the building ought to be put 
somewhere else than on the Connell school grounds. The 
Board answered that no situation, suited to the convenience 
of the "vacant districts," could be had, and dismissed the 
whole subject. "Be it resolved," said they, "that the present 
Board have nothing more to do in the matter." Almost 20 
years passed before a new building was erected. 

When the Common school law of 1834 was accepted 
and was put into operation in our community, the Bor- 
ough of Connellsville and the township of Connellsville con- 




^^._,^^^^^^^^^z 



THE SECOND WARD SCHOOL 



138 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

stituted one district, and this arrangement continued until 
March 1852. At the March term of the Court of Quarter 
Sessions of Fayette county, that year, the Borough of Con- 
nellsville was made a separate and independent school dis- 
trict. In comphance with the requirements of the law and 
in obedience to "the proclamation of the high sherifif of the 
county," an election was held for six school directors, Mon- 
day, April 5, 1852. The following persons were elected: 
Stephen Robbins, Josiah Kurtz, Abraham Shallenberger,. 
John Taylor, John Collins and George White, the first two 
for one vear, the second two for two years, the third two 
for three years. Stephen Robbins was made president of 
the Board, Josiah Kurtz, secretary, and Abraham Shallen- 
berger, treasurer. A tax of "thirty cents on the one hun- 
dred dollars was levied for school purposes for the current 
year." By this separation from the township, the Borough 
lost the school at the Quaker Graveyard which, as we have 
said, was outside the existing Borough limits. That school 
became the property of the township. A substitute was. 
found for it in October. A building, owned by Mrs. Sarah 
Clayton and situated on what is now the southwest corner 
of Grape and Meadow alleys was rented. It was once a 
carpenter shop, but it was made to serve as a school room 
for many years and was called No. 3. It would be hard to 
form a list of the rooms rented from 1835 onward. The 
Fuller School was beside a tannery south of the present 
freight depot of the Southwest Penn'a railroad. The pupils 
made good use of the heaps of tanbark as a play ground. 
Another rented room was on Grave street (now Fairview 
avenue ) , another was on Peach street ; another in what 
afterward became the S. W. Penn'a railroad station ; one 
was rented in '55 from J. T. McCormick ; one in '56 
from Thomas Evans. In almost every year, several 
rooms were rented. Sometimes the directors owned the 
seats and desks, sometimes the teacher owned them. In 
either case they were often stored in the old market house 
when schools were closed. 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS lo!> 

Up until 1854, when the ofihce of County Superintendent 
was created, the teachers were examined bv the directors. 
The minute of October IG, 1848, tehs us that "Ahnon Green- 
man was examined in the following branches, viz : Read- 
ing, writing, arithmetic, English grammar and geography." 
The examination was satisfactory, and the secretar}- of the 
Boand was ordered to give him a certificate. A week later, 
David Connell and William Shafer "appeared before the 
Board" for a similar purpose. Such entries in the records 
are found at frequent intervals. The directors often had 
assistance in this w^ork from a minister or an experienced 
teacher. From this w^ork they were relieved when it was 
made the duty of the countv superintendent to conduct such 
examinations. Prof. Joshua \\ Gibbons, of Brownsville, 
was the first of our county superintendents, and served four 
terms. His first visit to our Board was made on Thurs- 
day, September 14, 1854. He was a man of herculean 
frame, of unusual ability and strict integrity. 

The teachers reported to the Board every month the 
names and occasionally the ages of their pu])ils, their at- 
tendance, their progress in general, and their conduct. Some 
of the reports made out bv Messrs. Josiah D. Stillwagon 
and David Barnes have been preserved. Those of Mr. Still- 
wagon are fancifullv embellished wdth pictures and other 
productions of his own pen, and show that from February 
6, 1849, until March 8, 1850, there were about eighty pupils 
enrolled in the school on the Pinnacle, with an average at- 
tendance of fifty. Space would fail us to give an account 
of the teachers in the '50s and "60s, to come no nearer to 
our own time. Josiah D. Stillwagon, who taught a 
number of terms, and became prominent in the business and 
politics of the Borough in later life, David Barnes, who 
taught manv years and afterward held a clerkship in the 
State Capitol and other responsible positions, the last being 
that of agent of the S. W. Pennsylvania Railroad in Con- 
nellsville, John Bolton, who taught several years in. 
this place, then for seventeen years in the schools of Ports- 



IrtO CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

jnouth, Ohio, and for thirty years in the high school of 
Cleveland. Ohio. In the last named school he was a teacher 
of science. He retired from work about 3 years ago, and 
is now living near Mill Run. The list of Connellsville 
teachers includes Joseph T. McCormick, prominent in 
later life as a manufacturer, banker and capitalist, always 
interested in the schools and frequently serving on the 
Board, its secretary for some years ; James Stimmell, 
who became a soldier in the Civil War; Benjamin 
JFrankenberry, who afterward moved to Tennessee and 
died there ; Peter A. Johns, Otho Williams, Albert S. 
Cameron, and many others deserving of mention. Some 
became ministers as Rev. Amos Hutton, who taught in 
'59, and Rev. Joseph AI. Collins, who taught in "GO. Mr. 
Collins, now living in Uniontown, was licensed to preach 
in June, '59, and during his active ministry held important 
charges in the Baptist Church, his last charge being at 
Perry, Kansas. We read of no female teachers until in 
the '50s. The first of which we find record were Miss Jane 
McCormick (Mrs. Christian Snyder), who taught No. 2 
in 1850, and Miss Margaret Collins (Mrs. Matthew Cooley), 
who taught the Clayton school that same year. Then came 
Miss Mary Buckingham, Miss Anna Shallenberger, Miss 
Azubah Melindy and others, but the male teachers were 
greatly in the majority until near the close of the '60s. 
School teachers have never received extravagant salaries, 
but in the early days of the Borough their income was 
small. In 1851, male teachers were allowed $20 a month, 
female teachers $12.50 a month. The next year the female 
teachers received $13.50. The school term in the days of 
the old log house was seldom more than four months, some- 
times less. In later days five or six months seem to have 
been the rule. Often there was a winter school and a sum- 
mer school, the former for the larger pupils, the latter for 
the smaller. The latter were caller primary schools, juvenile 
schools and even infant schools. As late as 1860, the teachers 
were required to build the fires and keep the house clean 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 141 

at their own expense. In 18G1, sextons were employed by 
the Board at a cost of fifty cents each per month. What 
amount of time or strength these sextons gave to the work, 
the records do not say. No doubt they earned their money. 
The salaries of teachers gradually advanced until in 1870 
the principal male teacher received $80 a month, and the 
female teachers $40. There has been later advancement 
and it is sincerely to be hoped that those who teach our 
youth in the public schools to love their country and to be 
good, intelligent, honorable citizens will soon be accorded 
a compensation somewhat commensurate with the value and 
dignity of their calling. 

Many of the old-time customs have passed away. Men 
who are not yet infirm with age remember the Christmas 
times when in the morning, the scholars got into the school 
ahead of the teacher, fastened the door and the window^; 
and notified him that he would not be allowed to come in 
until he had solemnly agreed to give them a generous 
"treat" of apples, cakes and the like. The scholars generally 
brought food with them and were prepared to spend the- 
day, if necessary, "barrino- out" the teacher. Success, in 
most cases, crowned their undertaking. 

THE UNION SCHOOL BUILDING. 

The three storied brick school house, now standing' 
on Fairview avenue, on the eastern end of the school house 
grounds, was erected after much discussion and delay. In 
March, 1863, the subject was considered by the Board, the 
need of such a building being recognized by all present. It 
was decided to take "immediate measures to have an Act 
of Assembly passed to allow the schools of this Borough 
to be suspended for one or two years for the purpose of al- 
lowing the taxes to be used in building a union school house. 
We hear nothing, however, of such measures being taken. 
Three years later, March 2, 1866, Richard Campbell, 
the secretary of the Board, was appointed to go to Mc- 
Keesport "to examine" the L^nion school house in that place. 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 14;) 

and on the 11th of March it was decided "to build a three 
story house, (JOxlJG," and to issue bonds for the necessary 
funds. Nothing further seems to have been done until May 
6, 1867, when a plan, submitted to the Board by Barr & 
Moser, architects, of Pittsburgh, was adopted. Messrs. A. 
Shallenberger and J. T. McCormick were appointed to su- 
perintend the erection of the building. 

From the first there was determined opposition to this 
building. It was said by some that the Borough would be 
plunged hopelessly into debt, and by others that a building 
of such dimensions would not be needed for fifty years to 
come. The question agitated the community. Sides were 
taken and it was made an issue, the overshadowing issue 
in municipal politics. On the 21st of May, a protest came 
before the Board signed by oS citizens. In August a ques- 
tion arose between the Borough Council and the Board 
which for a time threatened a collision. In March, 18(58, 
an unsuccessful eflrort was made within the Board itself to 
have the new house made two stories high instead of three. 
The only change was made May 4, 18()8, when it was 
decided to make it fifty feet by seventy instead of sixty by 
sixty-six. 

The w^ork, begun late in 1867, was completed June 11, 
1869. On that day the building was "taken ofl:' the hands 
of the contractor," and on Monday morning, June 14th, 
the schools were opened in the new Union school house, 
under Connellsville's first principal, Samuel A. Espey. 
Mr. Espey had been elected April 8th, and he served as 
principal six years. He proved himself thoroughly fur- 
nished unto his work — firm, prudent, active, a man of fine 
intellectual training, of attractive character and winning 
manners. He was devoted to the work of teaching, and 
rendered most valuable and efficient service in organizing 
our Union schools. From Connellsville he went to Alle- 
gheny where he has been through all these thirty years the 
honored and successful principal of one of the city schools. 

On opening the new building and until the year 1878, 



144 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

only the first and second stories were occupied as school 
rooms, eight rooms in all. The third story was fitted up in 
a humble way as a hall. Though intended for school pur- 
poses, it was in demand for various entertainments, being 
the only hall in town. Soon after it was opened, the "j\Ie- 
chanic's Dramatic Association" received "the use of it at 
$15.00 a night." The Carrington Cornet Band gave three 
concerts in it. Exhibitions and lectures were also given in 
the hall. But in the summer of 1878, two rooms were fitted 
up on the third floor for additional schools, and soon the 
School Hall was no more. The patrons of these entertain- 
ments in the hall seem to have been sometimes noisy, for 
the Board was compelled, on some occasions, to employ 
"two persons to attend as policemen — to enforce good or- 
der and arrest any or all persons engaged in an}' acts of 
misdemeanor," the Board to pay half the expense, the Bor- 
ough the other half. Notices were likewise posted in the 
hall prohibiting persons from "standing on the benches or 
sitting on the backs of same." 

After Mr. Espey, J. V. Porter was elected princi- 
pal in 18^5, serving two years; A. Ereeman in 18(7; 
Erank Erye in 1878 ; M. L. Baer in 1871), serving 
until 1884. In June 1881, it was decided to consolidate 
rooms Nos. 11 and 12, "making the consolidated room the 
principal's room," one of the teachers being "assigned to 
that room as assistant principal." This was the beginning 
of the present high school. On January 10, 1882, the Board 
accepted a recommendation of the principal, Mr. Baer, to 
"have a graduating class every year" and to "adopt a course 
of study for each class." Accordingly, a class of six grad- 
uated in May, 1882. Eive young women and one young 
man composed the class. The commencement exercises con- 
sisted of music, essays and recitations, and were held in 
Newmyer's Opera House. This, the first of our Connells- 
ville school commencements, was an interesting and signi- 
ficant event in the educational history of the Borough. The 
total enrollment for 1882 was 849 ; the average attendance 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 145 

530. This showed advancement since 1811 when OHver 
Sproul taught 38 scholars in the old log school house on 
that same hill, and since 1821 when Dennis O'Keefe taught 
30. 

The treasurer's report for 1882 showed receipts for 
school purposes to the amount of $6,932.07 that year, which 
was in striking contrast with the financial statement of 
1848 which informs us that the tax duplicate for that year 
amounted to $490.83. The State appropriation for 1882 
amounted to $824.50; in 1835 it was $88.17>4, and that was 
for Borough and township together. 

THE UNION SCHOOL HOUSE MOVED. 

The cutting down of Fairview avenue ( formerly Grave 
street) and the cutting through of Pittsburgh street created 
a doubt as to the safety of the Union school house. In the 
summer of 1885, the subject occupied the attention of the 
Board as well as the public, in general. After considerable 
discussion and a variety of suggestions as to the best plan 
to be pursued, correspondence was opened with H. Felt- 
man & Co., house movers, Chicago, 111., which resulted in 
a contract with that firm, decided upon by the Board, May 
6, 1886, for the removal of the building to the east end 
of the school lots. The contract was to the effect that the 
Board would ''build the foundation and pay for the excava- 
tion under the school house," while Feltman & Co., would 
remove the building to the new foundation, doing it for 
$2,500. A bond for $15,000 was given by the firm for the 
safety of the building. Work began at once. On June 11, 
1886, the Board decided that the schools should be opened 
the first ]\Ionday in September, "provided building would 
be ready and to continue from such commencement during 
eight months." But when the first Monday in September 
came, the building was far from being ready. Steam heat- 
ing had been contracted for, but the apparatus had not yet 
been installed ; many repairs to the building were needed 
and the Chicao:o firm had not vet entirelv fulfilled its con- 



14:6 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

tract. At their meeting of October 29, 1886, the directors 
reconsidered the action of June 11th, and decided that the 
school term should begin the first Monday of November and 
continue seven months. This led to a somewhat sensational 
event known as "the teachers' strike." The Board met 
Tuesday, November 2nd, and a delegation of teachers met 
with it. The committee, for such the ladies were, presented 
a paper protesting in the name of the teachers elected in 
June, against the reduction of the school term from eight 
months to seven. The directors declined to reverse their 
action. The principal and seven of the teachers refused 
to sign the articles of agreement unless the term was made 
eight months, and it was resolved by the Board to dismiss 
all those who refused to sign the articles, and to serve a 
legal notice upon them that they would no longer be allowed 
to act as teachers, and others would be employed in their 
stead. 

November 9, 1886, the Board proceeded to an election 
to fill the vacancies created by "the strike." L. M. 
Herrington was chosen principal instead of Miss M. Agnes 
MacKay (now Mrs. MuUin, of Minnesota), who had been 
elected in 1881: as the successor of M. L. Baer. The 
other vacancies were filled, and, to use a hackneyed phrase, 
"the incident closed." 

THE SECOND WARD BUILDING. 

On the loth of April, 1887, the Board decided to build 
a brick school house on lots recently purchased at a cost of 
$2,200, lying on Highland avenue and Grant street in the 
Second Ward. It was felt that the crowded condition of 
the schools rec^uired a comparatively large building. Ac- 
cordingly an eight roomed house was determined upon, the 
cost of erection not to exceed $16,000. It was decided to 
issue bonds for $20,000 bearing interest at five per cent. 
The action of the Board was energetically opposed by many 
of the people. A meeting, held in Newmyer's Opera House, 
protested against a building so large and costly, and when 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 147 

a new Board went into office June 6, 188 T, the action of 
the former Boar" //as reversed and a brick building of 
four rooms was contracted for. The new building was 
begun in September, 1887, was finished January 3, 1888, 
was furnished during the spring and summer of that year, 
and opened September 3, 1888. 

The accommodations continued inadequate. Rooms 
were rented, among which were one from Conrad Hoop 
on Snyder street, from November, 1889, until June '91 ; 
one from,! E. W. Horner on Pittsburgh street in '91 ; one 
in the Weihe hall, one in Odd Fellows' hall and one in the 
Kurtz building — all three in '93. On the 30th of August, 
1891, the Board adopted a resolution to erect a house, con- 
taining eight rooms, "said building to be erected on lot 
in Fourth Ward now owned by School Board." In other 
words, the building was to stand where the three story 
building (now known as "the old building") had originally 
stood — the corner of Pittsburg street and Fairview avenue. 
And thus 

THE PRESENT HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, 
came into existence. The grounds had been graded, and a 
retaining wall had been built. Plans were adopted, Sep- 
tember 35, 1891. The contract was soon afterward made. 
A modern building of handsome appearance, substantially 
built of brick, and well-appointed was completed in the 
summer of 1895, and was thrown open for school purposes 
the first Monday of September of that year. It was a 
two-story building and the High School occupied the second 
story. 

The erection of a building in the Third Ward was dis- 
cussed in Board meetings as early as ^vlarch, 1891, perhaps 
earlier. In 1893, it was agreed upon to purchase grounds 
if a suitable location could be obtained, but it was not until 
1900 that the Third Ward School House was secured. In 
that year, a two-story building, of buff brick, of good archi- 
tectural design, with eight rooms was erected on Tenth 
street, at the head of Peach. 



148 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Still another building was projected in 1905 to be lo- 
cated in the Fourth Ward. It was completed September 
1, 190G, and is situated on the South Side on the east side 
of Race street, some distance south of Patterson avenue. It 
is of grey brick, graceful in its proportions and imposing 
in its appearance, and contains 12 rooms. 

As to the cost of the various school buildings erected 
in the Borough, we have only partial knowledge. We 
know nothing of the cost of the old log school house, 
though it may safely be asserted that it was little. 
Rev. Alexander Clark, D.D., editor of the "School-day Vis- 
itor," described a similar structure in which his father had 
taught, and said that it was built in a day and cost thirty- 
two dollars. Nor do we know what "the three little brick 
houses" cost. The three story Union school building cost 
about $15,000, and its removal in 1886 cost about $5,000. The 
Second Ward building cost about $14,000, the High School 
building about $17,000, the Third Ward building about 
$14,000, and it is estimated that $50,000 will be expended on 
the construction and equipment of the new building in the 
Fourth Ward. 

We have already mentioned the principals from 
Samuel A. Espey, first principal, to L. M. Herrington, 
who served from November, 1880, until June, 1887. The 
following names complete the list to the present time : 
Jacob I. Humbert, (1887-1890); John S. Christy, (1890- 
1893); William G. Cans, (1893-1897), and James P. 
Wylie, the present principal, who took charge of our 
schools in 1897. 

The study of vocal music was introduced into the 
schools in 1897, and, with some periods of intermission, has 
continued to this time. Alexander B. Morton is the present 
teacher. 

Attendance or truant officers have been employed, in 
compliance with the Act of Assembly of July 11. 1901, to 
look after and, if necessary, "arrest and apprehend" truants 
and others who fail to attend school within the period of 
compulsory attendance. 



150 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Flags were occasionally unfurled over the schools be- 
fore the Act ®f July 2, 1895. On the 4th of July, 1876, 
the Centennial Fourth, the Stars and Stripes waved from 
early morning from the belfry of the Union school house. 
On Christmas afternoon, 1888, a memorable scene took 
place in Newmyer's Opera House. It was the presentation 
of two large and beautiful flags by the Junior Order of 
American ]\Iechanics to the school board to be placed upon 
the two buildings of that time, one on the Union building 
and one on the Second Ward building. The directors and 
other representatives of the schools occupied the platform, 
and an interested audience filled the house to its utmost 
limits. Speeches of presentation and acceptance were de- 
livered, and other appropriate exercises, musical and lit- 
erary, were held. 

The celebration of Columbus Day, October 31, 1892, 
was another lesson in patriotism. It was held on the Fourth 
Ward School grounds. The building was lavishly decor- 
ated with flags and streamers. A platform stood on the 
grounds. A multitude of happy school children, in holiday 
attire, carrying flags and flowers, filled the enclosure, while 
a great throng of people stood in the streets. Short addresses 
were made. Patriotic selections were recited, and patriotic 
songs were sung by the children, their multitudinous voices- 
lifted up in clear, silvery tones and ringing far out over 
the surrounding streets. Love of the flag, love of the prin- 
ciples which it represents and of the land over which it 
floats is a cardinal virtue, and we may well be thankful for 
the work of our common schools in nourishing this noble 
sentiment. 

A literary society was organized in the high school in 
the autumn of 1884. Three years later, the work of the 
society was made part of the school curriculum. The so- 
ciety was the outgrowth of the "Public Fridavs" of earlier 
years. Two societies are now in existence. 

The wisdom of the Board in assuming a share in the 
financial support of the Carnegie Free Library has been 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 151 

clearly demonstrated. The scholars make generous and in- 
creasing use of the library and in various ways, the educa- 
tional value of the institution is beyond question. 

At the close of the last school year, May, 1906, there 
were 34 schools, with 34 teachers, one assistant teacher and 
one music teacher. The schools were open nine months, 
with an enrollment of l,-430, and an average attendance of 
1,263. The graduating class numbered 16, of whom 12 were 
young women and 4 were young men. 

The treasurer's report, April 2, 1906, showed a balance 
in the building fund of $38,397.14 ; in the sinking fund 
$4,512.66; in the library fund $1,482.01, and in the general 
fund $8,363.09. 

The school tax duplicate for 1906-7 is $33,621.15. 

The present Board of Directors, organized the first 
Monday of June, 1906, is composed of the following per- 
sons : Eugene T. Norton, president ; Robert Welsh, secre- 
tary ; Thomas Holt, treasurer ; E. C. Higbee, Dr. H. F. At- 
kinson, Dr. M. B. Shupe, W. S. Schenck and John L. Gans. 
The Board on being organized took action making the high 
school a separate and independent institution in accord- 
ance with the State law, and, with a view to increasing its 
efficiency, enlarged the curriculum and lengthened the 
course from three years to four. Prof. W. S. Defifenbaugh 
was elected principal of the high school, and Prof. J. P. 
Wylie was re-elected principal of the Ward schools. Action 
was also taken encouraging and urging candidates for the 
teaching profession to secure a normal school education. 

PRIVATE SCPIOOLS. 

Connellsville has had a goodly number of private or 
select schools, and many of these have been well attended. 
In 1826, D. S. Knox, afterward widely known as the 
cashier of the Monongahela Bank in Brownsville, taught 
a select school on the east side of Peach street, below 
Meadow alley, and later a school on or near the northwest 
corner of Main street and JMountain allev. 



153 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

In later times, Revs. Messrs. Sutton and Rupert opened 
schools in various parts of the Borough. A man of Irish 
birth "kept school" on Water street. It was a common 
thing" for him to fall asleep in school hours, often with his 
head resting upon the desk, while the pupils made good use 
of their liberty, and often when he awoke, he found that 
they had pinned placards upon his back or even tied him 
to his chair. Many excellent teachers conducted private 
schools from time to time. Among these was Corbin 
A. Gilbert who had a school in the Clayton house in the 
'50s. There was probably no discourtesy intended to him 
by the boy of poetic gifts who composed a stanza which 
was frequently and gleefully quoted by his schoolmates. 
The stanza was as follows : 

"Gilbert's pigs were in the pen, 

They only get out now and then ; 

But when tiiey get out they run all about, 

And eat up all John Cowp's sour krout." 

Another select school was taught at a later date by Miss 
Margaret M. Bell, who had been a teacher in the Third 
Ward public schools, Allegheny. Miss Bell, now living in 
Braddock, was a faithful, judicious, pains-taking teacher. 
She was deeply interested in her pupils, loved her work and 
was quite successful in it. During her stay here, she taught 
in a room on the northwest corner of Pittsburgh and Main 
streets, and in the old Odd Fellows' Hall, as also in New 
Haven. 

Several parochial or church schools are in existence 
in Connellsville and New Haven, chief among which, in 
point of the number both of teachers and scholars, is the 
school of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Con- 
nellsville. In addition, kindergartens, night schools, summer 
normals, and business colleges have been opened at various 
times. 

NEW HAVEN SCHOOLS. 

The intimate relations existing between Connellsville 
and New Haven fully justify us in giving an account of 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 153 

the schools in our sister J»oroug"h across the Yough. 

The earhest school of which any record is found was 
a school taught in 1815 by Mrs. Sarah Alcllvaine in her 
own home on Front street. New Haven in that year had 
only two streets built upon, and little more than a hundred 
inhabitants. Pupils from the Connellsville side of the river 
were in Mrs. Mcllvaine's school among them some mem- 
bers of Zachariah Connell's family. Soon after this 
date, a Air. Ellis opened a school on the second floor of a 
house on Second street. In 1S18. Stephen Smith, who lived 
in the country and worked part of the time in Rol^inson's 
mill on Possum Run, taught in a house on h^ront street, 
owned at the time by Caleb Squibb. The next year, Robert 
Wright, wdio afterward became a physician, taught in the 
Scjuibb house. In lcS-^1, Jarvis F. Hanks taught in a house 
on the river bank near the Gregg mill. In IS-i;), Oliver 
Sproul. who both before and after this date taught in Con- 
nellsville, taught in New Haven on Trader's allev, near 
Front street. Stewart H. Whitehill taught in Stephen Fair- 
child's house, corner Second street and Trader's allew ]\lr. 
Whitehill, who afterward w^ent w'est and died there, was a 
man of scholarly attainments and occasionally delivered lec- 
tures to the young people of Connellsville and New Haven 
on historical and other subjects. He is said to have taught 
in 1839 and the early '30s. A Mr. PearsoU was another 
teacher of that period. His school was held in an al^andoned 
Avareroom on the river bank. 

A few years later, Flavins Josephus C. Worrell taught 
in a one-story brick school house on Third street, a short 
distance north of the present South West Pennsylvania rail- 
road trestle. The house had been built by subscription, was 
somewhat enlarged in 18-17 or '48, served as a school for 
many years, then as a dwelling and was removed only a few 
years ago. Mr. Worrell was an intelligent and enterpris- 
ing teacher. Of genial and cultivated manners himself, he 
included lessons in politeness and courtesy in the school 
curriculum. There are citizens of New Haven who have 



154 CEf''.ENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSXILLE 

been accustomed to speak of the old Third Street school as 
the "Green Level Seminar}'." That name was facetiously 
bestowed upon the school by Mr. Worrell during his con- 
nection with it, in allusion to the open fields or commons 
at that time surrounding it. Mr. Worrell came from New 
Jersey and, after his school engagement here, returned to 
that State. 

Dunbar township, which then and for years afterward 
included New Haven, promptly accepted the common school 
law of 1834:. "The public school system was inaugurated in 
1835, and May 22nd of that year the school appropriation 
apportioned to Dunbar was $113.33)4 from the State and 
$225. GG^^ from the county." It was not until New Haven 
became a Borough in 1867 that a school building was erected 
at public expense within the Borough limits. The directors 
of the township schools had erected, in about the year 1848, 
a one-story frame building just outside the present Bor- 
ough. This was used for a considerable time as a school, 
attended by the youth of the village, and was known gen- 
erally as the "White school house," to distinguish it from 
the little red school house on Third street. It is still stand- 
ing and has long been occupied as a dwelling. It is on the 
river bank, directly across the street or lane from the foun- 
dry of the Connellsville Alanufacturing and 2\Iine Supply 
Compan}' bv which it is now owned. 

Since 1835 there have been many teachers both of pub- 
lic and private schools in New Haven. Marlin D. Dimick 
taught in 1840, Mrs. Robert Dougan in 1845, Daniel Forry 
in 1846. Mr. Forry went as a lieutenant to the Mexican 
war, and died at Vera Cruz. Rev. Kensev Johns Stewart, 
rector of the Episcopal Church, New Haven, taught an acad- 
emy in the Third street school in 1847, had an addition made 
to the building, had pupils from Greensburg and other points 
at a distance, and employed persons of thorough education 
for assistants. Mr. Stewart did much for the cause of 
education in this and in other communities. He was born 
in New Castle, Delaware, March 12, 1817, graduated from 



THE OLD WHITE SCHOOL HOUSE 
NOW A DWELLING 




THE SEVENTH STREET 
SCHOOL 



THE THIRD STREET 
SCHOOL 



156 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVTLLE 

Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pa., in the Class of 1837, 
held a number of important pastoral charges, published sev- 
eral volumes on historical and other subjects, received the 
degree of Doctor of Divinity from Washington and Lee 
University in 188U, and spent his closing years in Richmond, 
Va., where he died June lU, 1902. 

Mr. John Bolton, already spoken of as a teacher in 
Connellsville, had a select school in the White school. New 
Haven, and also taught in the Third street public school. 

In 1857, Rev. James Black, D.D., pastor at that time 
of the Connellsville Presbyterian church, opened a select 
school in the Mcllvaine hall, northwest corner of Main and 
Pront streets. The course of study included the classics 
and the higher mathematics, and the school was well pat- 
ronized. Dr. Black resigned his pastoral charge in the 
spring of 18 GO, and devoted the remaining years of his life 
to the work of teaching". He was the first president of the 
Pennsylvania College for Women in Pittsburgh, and a pro- 
fessor first in Washington and Jefferson College, Penn., 
and then in Wooster University, Ohio. He died in Wooster, 
December 23, 1890, aged 65 years. 

C. C. Baugh, in 1859, Miss Margaret Bell, in 
1860 and Pollard Morgan, in 1861, taught select schools 
in the Mcllvaine hall. Mr. Morgan was a theological stu- 
dent, a candidate for the Presbyterian ministry. Soon after 
leaving New Haven, however, he became a Roman Catholic, 
went to the City of Rome, and in course of time entered the 
priesthood. 

Rev. Timothy O'Connell, rector of the Episcopal 
Church, taught a select school in the hall in 1875. He was 
an Irish Canadian and is said to have been a relative of 
Daniel O'Connell, the great Irish orator and statesman. An- 
other teacher was Joseph Moreland, for many years past a 
leading attorney in Morgantown. The New Haven school 
district was established June 1, 1868, the year after the Bor- 
ough's permanent organization. It thus became independent 
of the township. The first Board of directors was com- 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 157' 

posed of S. G. Smutz, president ; I. V. Rhodes, secretary ;, 
S. S. Myers, treasurer, Hugh Cameron, George Nichol and 
J. M. Lytle. The salaries of teachers amounted the first 
year to $;320. 

When that part of the town, lying west of Fourth 
street, was taken into the Borough ( the Ashmun — Torrence 
Addition) a two-story frame school building, erected by the 
township Board in the 'TOs, was made the property of the 
New Haven Board and has continued to be occupied as a 
school. It is known as the Seventh street school house. 
It was enlarged some years ago, and now has six rooms. 

In 188"3, the two-story brick house, with four rooms, 
was built on Third street, one block south of Main street. 
The following persons have served as principals of the New 
Haven schools since the opening of this two-storv brick 
building: J. W. Sleesman, J. K. Rush, John S. Christy, 
Lee S. Smith, J. M. Murtland. W. D. McGinniss. L. B. 
Brownfield. J. S. ^vIcKee, B. T. Frazee and H. G. May. 
Mr. May, the present incumbent, took charge of the schools 
in 1903. There are ten schools and ten teachers, with a term 
of eight months. The enrollment for the school year ending 
the last of April, 1906, was 405, and the average attendance 
375. The school tax duplicate for 190(5-T is $().OG3.71. The 
Board of directors consists of the following persons : Dr. 
G. W. Gallagher, president; Charles H. Balsley. secretary, 
Lutellus L. Herbert, Aaron Fornwalt, Kell Long and Henry 
Rhodes. 

The new suburb of New Flaven. Greenwood, has a 
school house of four rooms, built by the township of Dun- 
bar in 1905. It is of brick and is two storied; it is thor- 
oughly modern in its equipment and is "beautiful for situa- 
tion," commanding a view of mountain and valley. 

Connellsville township has five school buildings — the 
Narrows with two rooms, the Germany Hill (Broadford) 
with one room. Rock Ridge with two, the Washington with 
two, the Gibson or South Connellsville with eight. In addi- 
tion to these, the township has schools in three rented rooms 



158 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

in South Connellsville, making eleven schools in all. The 
schools are under the care of a township superintendent. 
There is also a township High School, held in the Gibson 
building, from which a class of six graduated in 1906. 

This review of our local school history discloses the 
fact that our people have not been indifferent to the welfare 
of the young, and it may be asserted that, with the passing 
of the years, the value of intelligence has been increasingly 
recognized and appreciated. The State has been generous 
in the aid it has extended to our common schools. It illus- 
trates both the growth of our population and the growth 
of State liberality to note the fact that the State appropria- 
tion of $75,000 in 1835 has risen to $5,500,000 in 1906, of 
which amount Fayette county is to receive $98,771.33. 

In 1880, Connellsville received $777 from the State ; in 
]906 she received $6,363.06. In 1880, New Haven received 
$102.85 from the State ; in 1906 she received $1,570.74. The 
amount raised by taxation has been large, also, as our tax 
duplicates from year to year show, but no money has been 
better spent. It has been a most profitable investment. As 
a safeguard of free institutions the school ranks only second 
in importance to the church. "Liberty is not the child of 
ignorance;" and in no nation on the face of the earth is it 
so overwhelmingly important as in ours that there should 
be general intelligence, education of all the people in body, 
mind and heart. Washington, in his farewell address, gave 
counsel which Americans ought never to forget,— "Pro- 
mote," said he. "as an object of prime importance, institu- 
tions for the general diffusion of knowledge ;" and James 
Monroe laid down a doctrine equal in value to his more 
famous "Monroe doctrine" : "Let us by all wise and con- 
stitutional measures promote intelligence among the people 
as the best means of preserving our liberties." Honored, 
then, be the name of every man or woman who, from the 
days of our old log school house down, has faithfully tried 
to make our communitv wiser, brighter and better ! 



CHAPTER V. 



THE PRESS. 



It is not possible to write the history of Connellsville 
without reference to the Press. It ranks with the Church 
and the pubHc school as a maker of history. It stands in 
close touch with the moral, social, intellectual and political 
life of the community ; it furnishes the media through which 
public sentiment is expressed and by which public policies 
are definitely determined. 

The press is not only an important factor in the making 
of history, but also in recording it. It is the public news 
gatherer. Few items of historic value escape its keen re- 
porters. Were it possible to secure full files of all the papers 
of Fayette county from the fifth day of December, 1797, 
when the first number of the "Fayette Gazette and Union 
Advertiser" appeared, to the present, they would furnish, 
us with a perfect cyclopedia of Fayette county history. But 
who has these files ? Their rich values were not fully real- 
ized at the time, and no one took the trouble to preserve 
them. We are delighted when we can lay our hands on a 
few stray copies of the earlier editions. Even their adver- 
tisements are read with interest and photographed as curios. 

Fayette county enjoys the distinction of having the 
second oldest newspaper published in western Pennsylvania. 
The initial number of the "Pittsburg Gazette" appeared on 
the twenty-sixth day of July, 178G; the "Fayette Gazette 
and Union Advertiser," of which the "Genius of Liberty" 
of Uniontown is the legitimate successor, made its first 
appearance on the fifth day of December, 1797. 

This enterprise of Fayette county journalism will be 
the better appreciated when it is remembered that, at this 
time, the entire county could not have had a population of 



IGO CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLS\ILLE 

more than sixteen thousand, and these were so widely scat- 
tered and hard to reach as to make the circulation of a news- 
paper exceedingly difficult. The town of Connellsville was 
then little more than a cluster of ten or twelve log" houses 
with a population of not more than sixty souls. 

This pioneer newspaper, as published by Messrs. Stew- 
art and Mowry, the first proprietors, was a four-column 
folio, ten and one-half by sixteen and one-half inches in 
size, and ultra-Federalistic in politics. The earliest copy 
of this paper, now in existence, is a copy dated August 23, 
1799. It gives evidence of the fact that the path of the 
editors was not one of roses. News items are scarce. Dis- 
cussions of long-forgotten public issues fill its columns. Ad- 
vertising undoubtedlv furnished its chief source of revenue. 
In spite of all obstacles however, the little paper lived and 
prospered, and the Fayette county press has consequently 
a continuous history of one hundred and nine years. In 
1805, the paper was sold to Messrs. Allen and Springer, who 
published it under the name of ''The Genius of Liberty and 
Fayette Advertiser," having for its motto the words of Gov- 
ernor McKean, "the charms of novelty should not be per- 
mitted so to fascinate as to give to mere innovation the 
semblance of reform." It was about the same size as its 
predecessor, but was later cut down to a three-column folio 
eight by twelve inches. It was hard to make a pioneer 
newspaper a financial success as the frequent changes of 
ownership seem to indicate. On May 5, 1S12, the paper 
passed into the hands of Jesse Beeson, who published it 
with the motto : 

"Here shall the press the people's rights proclaim 

With truth it's guide, the public good it's aim." 
Since that time, there have been manv changes in the own- 
ership and management of the paper, but it has never failed 
to make its regular visits to the news-hungry public, and 
today enjoys a large circulation. 

Another pioneer paper of the county that circulated in 
Connellsville homes was the "Pennsvlvania Democrat" of 



THE PRESS 161 



Uniontown. This paper was a six-column folio, and was 
first published by Jacob B. Miller, in 1827. It was founded 
as the advocate of the re-election of President John Ouincy 
Adams. It was also strongly anti-AIasonic in principle. 
The subscription price of the paper was $2. 50, but inasmuch 
as the advertising was limited it was not a money-maker. 
The merchants of those days were not much given to 
printer's ink and only those advertisements that were re- 
quired by law enabled the proprietor to continue its publi- 
cation. The subscription list of each of the Uniontown jour- 
nals at this time was about five hundred, but the money was 
hard to collect and often left unpaid. For a while, the 
"Democrat" was edited by J. C. S. Goff and Samuel L. 
Yarrell, printers in the employ of the first proprietor. In 
1830, John F. Beazell became a partner in the ownership 
of the paper, and four years later it was sold to Samuel and 
William McDonald who published it for ten years. Since 
then it has changed hands several times, and since 1893 
has been published as "The News Standard." 

Other pioneer paper that circulated in this vicinity 
were : "The Fayette and Green Spectator," published in 
Uniontown, from 1811 to 1811, "The American Telegraph" 
published in Browaisville, from 1811 to 1818, and "The 
Western Register" first published in W^ashington, Pa., in 
1816. 

The first local newspaper was "The Gonnellsville ITer- 
aid" published in 1815, but it is not known who was its 
editor, or where it was printed. Indeed we would not know 
that such a paper ever existed if it were not for certain 
news items copied by the older county papers. Located at 
such a distance from the county-seat, enjoying but a small 
part of the legal patronage of the county, and ministering 
to a comparatively small constituency, this pioneer journal 
was soon forced to suspend publication. For forty years 
after this failure, the people of Gonnellsville were satisfied 
with the service of the Uniontown papers. Occasionallv 
some local wit would get up a pen-paper, and tack it up 



1G2 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

at some prominent place to the great amusement of the 
pnbhc, but that was the nearest approach to a local news- 
paper the people enjoyed. The papers of the Franklin Lit- 
erary Society, edited by Joseph T. McCormick, J. D. Still- 
wagon and others, show that there was plenty of journalistic 
talent in the community. Quite a number of these interest- 
ing papers, known as "The Scorpion," "The Ephemeris," 
"The Jews' Harp"" and "The Blue Hen"s Chicken"' are still 
preserved by our older citizens. 

The second attempt to establish a newspaper in Con- 
nellsville was made by Lafayette Markle, who, in August 
1855, published the first number of "The Connellsville Enter- 
prise." This was really a good paper for those days, and 
deserved a liberal patronage. The first editor was a man 
of some historic talent, and the loss of the files of his paper 
is a distinct loss to the history of the town. The second 
editor of "The Enterprise" was S. S. White. In 1859, 
R. Lyle White assumed the management and editorship of 
the paper, publishing it as "The Fayette Patriot." But for 
some reason it was not a financial success. The town did 
not seem able to support a first-class paper and its publica- 
tion was soon discontinued. To Daniel Peter Stentz, now 
of Pittsburgh, Pa., belongs the credit of establishing the 
first permanent newspaper in Connellsville. "The Fayette 
Monitor and Youghioghenian" was first issued under his 
management, April 12, 1870. It was a seven-column folio, 
and was Democratic in politics. The peculiar conditions that 
obtained in the Democratic party of Fayette county at that 
time secured for the paper liberal financial assistance and 
enabled it to succeed in a field where all its predecessors had 
failed. At no time during the twenty-six years of the paper's 
publication did the number of regular subscribers exceed 
eight hundred, but Editor Stentz was engaged in other busi- 
ness at the same time, and was not dependent upon "The 
Monitor" for his support. The offices of the paper were 
located at first on the ground floor of the old frame building 
adjoining the Roman Catholic Church, then they were re- 



THE PRESS 1G3 



moved to the Odd Fellows building", still later they were 
removed to the second floor of the building at first occupied. 
In 1896, Mr. Stentz leased his plant, at $2(i a month, to two 
young printers in his employ, A. H. Shaffer and D. S. Trim- 
ble. Vvdio published the paper for two years as "The New 
Monitor." The attention of these young men, however, was 
given chiefly to job work, and the paper never had a very 
extensive circulation. In 1S9.S they entered the employ of 
"The Connellsville News," and sold their subscription list 
to that paper. In 18!)9 L. G. Raymond, a New York jour- 
nalist of considerable experience, came to Connellsville for 
the purpose of establishing a Republican paper. He was 
given much encouragement and at once started to work. 
Leasing the old "Monitor" plant on East Main street, he 
issued the first number of his paper, "The Fayette County 
Republican." in April of that year. Mr. Raymond, like 
Editor Stentz. was a practical newspaper man of the old 
school, working out the larger part of his editorials at the 
composing bench. He was an ardent Reiiublican and his 
trenchant political articles are still vividl)- remembered by 
local newspaper men. The circulation of the paper steadily 
increased. Its strong political sentiments gave it consid- 
erable public favor. But just when success seemed sure 
the editor was stricken wuth typhoid fever and died. During 
his illness the paper was edited and managed l^v his gifted 
daughter. Miss Mabel (i. Raymond. Much of the mechan- 
ical work of the ]:»aper was also done bv her. After her 
father's death she was repeatedly solicited to take up news- 
paper work in the town, but refused all overtures and 
removed to New York with the rest of the familv. C)n the 
eleventh day of May 1!)01 William Kooser leased the Mon- 
itor plant from Mr. Stentz. On the fifteenth day of July, 
1902, Mr. Kooser and James C. F)egley formed a ])artncr- 
ship known as The Fayette Publishing Company, purchased 
the outfit, exchanging the greater part of it for a new press 
and other needed materials. An u]3-to-date plant was estab- 
lished in the Odd Fellows' building from which the publi- 



164: CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVTLLE 

cation of "The Fayette County Republican" was resumed. 
Under the new management the circulation was greatly 
increased, especially in the outlying country districts. On 
January 25, lOUG, the plant was sold to "The People's Trib- 
une," the Prohibition paper of Fayette county, and removed 
to Uniontown. 

In December 1874, about five years after D. P. Stentz 
had succeeded in establishing "The Fayette Monitor and 
Youghioghenfan," the first number of "The Connellsville 
Tribune" was issued. Its first editor was R. M. Sibbett, and 
in jDolitics it was Republican. After four years of service 
Editor Sibbett was succeeded by S. J. Hayes, who espoused 
the cause of the Greenback party. A few months later, it 
was purchased by Tilghman Hawes, a newspaper man from 
Meyersdale, Pa., who for some reason could not make it 
a financial success, and, in May 1879, the doors of its office 
were closed by the Sherifif of Fayette county. On the four- 
teenth day of June of the same year the Keystone Publish- 
ing Companv, Limited, was organized for the purpose of 
purchasing the plant of "The Tribune" and establishing the 
paper on a sound financial basis. The company was cap- 
italized at eleven hundred dollars, and the original stock- 
holders were : Porter S. Newmeyer, James T. Greenland, 
E. V. Goodchild, Isaac W. Rutter, Joseph T. McCormick, 
Kell Long, Joseph Soisson and Henry P. Snyder. The 
enterprise was purely public-spirited. The members of the 
company did not want to see one of Connellsville's news- 
papers perish, but they were Democrats, and wanted to 
change both the name and the policy of the paper. The first 
number appeared July 17, 1879, under the name of "The 
Keystone Courier." After a short time the word Keystone 
was dropped. It was an eight-column quarto and was 
printed on a Washington hand-press, which with a jobber 
comprised the press facilities of the plant. E. V. Good- 
child was elected business manager and Henry P. Snyder, 
editor of the paper. The editor was then a young man, 
twenty-three years of age, who had little or no experience 



THE PRESS 165 



in the newspaper business and wlio believed that lie could 
write up the editorial and news columns of the paper during 
his spare moments while prosecuting his law studies. The 
press of work, however, soon compelled him to choose one 
or the other ; the law books were laid aside, and he em- 
barked permanently upon his journalistic career. He was 
a Connellsville man by birth and sympathies, and, during 
the twenty-seven years of his public service as an editor, 
has done much to advance the material and business inter- 
ests of the town. The first few months of his labors as a 
journalist did not make his fortune. He and the business 
manager had agreed to run the paper for the profits. At 
the close of business, December 31. 1879, these profits 
amounted to exactly sixty-four dollars, or six dollars and 
forty cents a month for each man. But this was a time of 
foundation building. Large profits were not expected at 
the beginning. As the months went by, however, it soon 
became apparent to all that "The Courier" was growing in 
influence and favor and that it had come to stay. On March 
13, 1880, the capital stock of the company was increased 
to twenty-four hundred dollars, and a Campbell country 
press was purchased. It was a great improvement over 
the hand press formerly in use, but it turned with a crank 
and took lots of muscle to crank oflf an edition of a thou- 
sand papers. In October of the same year the capital stock 
was increased to three thousand dollars, and an Otto gas 
engine was purchased. This was one of the first gas engines 
installed in western Pennsylvania, and for a time was quite 
an object of curiosity. It was operated with artificial gas 
and was a cheap and convenient power, even at the com- 
parative high price of gas. Mr. Snyder and Mr. Goodchild 
continued as editor and business manager, respectively, until 
December 29, 1882, when they bought out the other stock- 
holders and formed a partnership under the name of Snyder 
& Goodchild. On February 1, 1885, Mr. Goodchild sold out 
his interest to A. M. Claybaugh, of Uniontown, and the 
publishers became Snyder and Claybaugh. The firm con- 



166 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CON NELLSVILLE 

tinned so until April 1, 1886, when Mr. Claybaugh's inter- 
est was purchased b_v J. H. S. Stimmell, and the firm was 
changed to Snyder & Stimmell. Just two years later John 
L. Gans acquired Mr. Stimmell's interest and the firm was 
again changed to Snyder & Gans. It so continued for 
three years, when, on April 11, 1891, Mr. Gans' interest was 
purchased by Mr. Snyder, who became sole proprietor. He 
continued to be the editor and publisher for a period of 
twelve years, when, on ^larch 14, 1903, the property was 
transferred to The Courier Company, a corporation formed 
for the purpose of purchasing it. Mr. Snyder is the president 
and managing editor and the chief stockholder of the com- 
pany. J. H. S. Stimmell, secretary and treasurer of the com- 
pany, has been with "The Courier" since 1885, and now 
has charge of all the mechanical work. The growth of 
the paper has been steady. It started as an eight-column 
folio, and was of the regulation country newspaper pattern. 
A story or miscellany made up the first page, editorial the 
second, local the third and miscellany the fourth. After a 
few years it was found necessary to enlarge it to a nine- 
column folio. In the meantime Mr. Snyder had become 
progressive, cleared the front page of advertising and 
devoted it to local news. The coke trade was beginning 
to loom up and this was made a feature of "The Courier." 
Since 1883, his weekly reviews of the Connellsville coke 
trade have been accepted as authority in manufacturing cir- 
cles and by State and Federal statisticians. The Courier 
office was gutted by fire April 1, 1884, but the paper never 
missed an issue, though for two weeks it was diminutive. 
Out of the ashes of the fire sprung a better equipment. A 
new two-revolution press was purchased, and a new build- 
ing was erected for the plant on the corner of Water and 
West Apple streets by the Thomas R. Davidson heirs. On 
June 8, 1888, a larger press was installed and the form of 
the paper was changed from a folio to a quarto, the new 
paper being a seven-column, eight-page paper. This was 
an enlargement from thirty-six to fifty-six columns. For 



THE PRESS 1G7 



years "The Courier" was a paper of such high exceUence 
that it was generally recognized as the model country 
weekly of Pennsylvania. But Connellsville was growing 
and the time came when it was necessary to issue a daily as 
well as weekly. The first daily issue appeared November 
10, 1902. It was a modest little five-column quarto, but 
like its mother weekly soon began to grow, and in less than 
two years became a seven-column, eight-page paper, with 
occasional editions of twelve to sixteen pages. To publish 
such a paper required modern machinery. When the daily 
was started a linotype machine was bought, but the increase 
in the size of the paper soon made it necessary to add a 
second machine and a Scott perfecting press to the plant. 
Under these conditions an edition of five thousand copies can 
now be printed in about half an hour. The new equipment 
also enabled the publishers to issue extra editions with ease. 
During the California earthquake excitement, April 19-20, 
1906, three editions were printed each day. 

When it was decided to publish a daily paper, the 
Water street quarters were found to be too small, and in 
September 1902, the plant was removed to the new building 
erected by Michael Hurley in the rear of his premises at 
127 W^est ]\Iain street. 

The credit for establishing the first daily paper in Con- 
nellsville belongs to The News Publishing Company. This 
company was organized January 12, 1898, with a capital 
stock of ten thousand dollars. It was incorporated under 
the laws of Pennsylvania Ma}^ 2G, 1898. The men most 
deeply interested in the establishment of this journalistic 
enterprise were John F. Soisson, John Duggan, J. S. Bryner, 
L. A. Carroll and Raymond S. Coll. Captain H. A. Crow 
was made general manager at the start, but with the out- 
break of the Spanish-American war went with the Tenth 
Regiment of Pennsylvania \'olunteers to the Philippines. 
He was succeeded by W. D. ]\IcGinnis, who assumed his 
position May 17, 1898. The first weekly was issued March 
10, 1898, and, on the afternoon of May 10, 1898, the news- 



1G8 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

boys began to sell tbe first daily on the streets of Connells- 
ville. Its first appearance was greeted with many dire pre- 
dictions of failure, but the public soon manifested its pleas- 
ure and the paper lived and prospered. 

The first editor of "The News" was Raymond S. Coll, 
who was called to the position from Pittsburgh, Pa., where 
he was a member of "The Times" staff. Mr. Coll already 
had considerable experience in Connellsville journalism, as 
the industrial reporter and assistant editor of "The Courier," 
and was well qualified for his work. He held this position 
until March 1, 1900. when he was succeeded by W. D. 
McGinnis. Editor McGinnis is the son of Joseph W. and 
Eliza Jane (Cooley) McGinnis and was born in Franklin 
township, Fayette county, April 8, 1869. He was a teacher 
in the public schools of the county for a period of ten years. 
He came to Connellsville in 1894 to accept the position of 
principal of the New Haven schools, which position he still 
held when called in 1898 to the managership of "The News." 
The double work of manager and editor assumed in 1900 
was too heavy for one man. and, on October 10, 1905, Rob- 
ert D. North was placed in charge of the editorial depart- 
ment. Mr. North already had considerable practical experi- 
ence in newspaper work as a member of the reportorial 
staff of "The News," and later as manager and editor of 
"The Jeannette Dispatch," and is a strong man in his place. 
For several vears the following directors have been in 
charge of the affairs of the company : E. C. Higbee, presi- 
dent ; W. D. McGinnis, treasurer ; H. A. Crow, secretary ; 
E. T. Norton and H. M. McDonald. The daily issue of 
the paper is eight pages, six columns in size ; and that of the 
weekly eight pages with seven columns. The mechanical 
department is ecjuipped with linotype machines, five job and 
two newspaper presses, while in the front offices five type- 
writing machines are kept busy grinding out the copy to 
feed the typesetting machines. 

"The News" circulates throughout all sections of the 
coke region. In politics it is rock-ribbed Democratic, in 



THE PRESS 169 



principles it is independent, always advocating" what it be- 
lieves to be right. It enjoys the favor of the chnrches 
because of its cleanness and its strong stand on many moral 
questions. 

The first offices of the paper were located in a frame 
building on the corner of West Apple and North Arch 
streets, but were later removed to the present larger quar- 
ters on East Alain street. Both of Connellsville's papers 
now have first-class facilities and can be depended on as 
■efficient builders of her prosperity. 



CHAPTER VI. 



MILITARY HISTORY, 



The history of Connehsville cannot be written without 
the mention of "wars and rumors of wars." It is in a his- 
toric region. At no great distance from it, Washington 
fought his first battle. Within rifle shot of its present 
boundaries, Braddock passed on his ih-fated expedition to 
Fort Duc[uesne, and not many miles away his tragic and 
pathetic death occurred. Over the mountains that rise in 
majesty round about us, through "the primeval forests," and 
across these winding streams, armies have marched, — small 
armies, indeed, but self-sacrificing and brave, and taking 
part, unwittinglv though it may have been with some of 
them, in events of world-wide importance. WHiether on 
their way to expel French intruders or to quell Indian upris- 
ings, they were helping to solve the problem : AVhat shall 
be the future of the Western Country ? By what power shall 
it be held and ruled? Fort Necessity was a prelude to the 
Seven Years' war in which almost every nation in Europe 
was sooner or later involved. The story of the expeditions 
which one after another passed to and fro through the pres- 
ent counties of Westmoreland and Favette in the second 
half of the eighteenth century is a vital part of the gigantic 
and prolonged contest between England and France for 
supremacy both in the old world and in the new. 

Three years after Braddock's defeat, another expedi- 
tion was sent by the English government to expel the 
French from the "Forks of the Ohio," and capture Fort 
Duquesne. The force was composed of about six thousand 
men, regulars and colonials, and was commanded by General 
John Forbes. Contrary to the advice of Washington, Forbes 
chose a route north of the Braddock road, cut a new road, 

170 



MIl.ITARV HISTORY lil 



afterward called the Glade road, came into Bedford county 
in September, 1T58, and sent Colonel Henry Bouquet, with 
an advance column of two thousand men, to the Loyalhanna 
river. Bouc^uet, in turn, sent ]\Iajor William Grant, with 
eight hundred men, most of them Scotch Highlanders, to 
reconnoiter and, if the wa\- was clear, to seize Fort 
Duquesne. Grant pushed on until he came to a hill near 
the fort, where he was attacked by a much superior force 
of French and Indians, and was defeated with great slaugh- 
ter, losing more than one-third of his men, and being him- 
self taken prisoner and sent to Montreal. The hill on which 
this disastrous engagement took place is in the present city 
of Pittsburgh. On its summit the county court house stands 
and, in memory of the unhappy event that occurred on it 
that September day in 1T58, the hill is to this day known 
as "Grant's Hill," while the thoroughfare passing over it 
bears the name. Grant street. 

On November "^oth, Forbes reached Fort Duquesne 
with his army, and found that the fort had been abandoned 
and burned the day before. The French garrison, reduced 
to not more than five hundred men, hearing of Forbes'' 
approach, had tied down the Ohio in boats. Forbes at once 
hoisted the British flag over the spot. Leaving two hundred 
men as a garrison, the valiant commander returned to Phil- 
adelphia, where he died the following March. 

Fort Duquesne was forever lost to the French. A new 
structure took its place, to which the name Fort Pitt was 
given, in honor of the great English statesman who was at 
the time in control of public affairs as Prime Minister. 

In the Forbes expeditionary force, there are said to- 
have been 2,700 Pennsylvanians and l,()O0 Virginians. 
Among the Virginians, there was a man who was destined 
seven years later to settle on the banks of the Yough, and to 
become famous as the leader of an expedition himself. We 
refer to William Crawford, at this time about twenty-six 
years of age and a resident of Berkeley county, V^irginia. 
In 1755, the Governor of A'irginia had commissioned Craw- 



172 CENTENNIAL HIST(3RY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

ford as ensign in a company of riflemen, probably on the 
recommendation of the young man's friend. Colonel George 
Washington. Though not in the Braddock expedition, as 
has sometimes been erroneously stated, he rendered import- 
ant service. For about three years he did frontier duty 
along the Potomac, acted as a scout, served in the garrison 
at Cumberland, and was promoted to a lieutenancy. 

When the Forbes expedition was being organized, 
Washington was given the command of the Virginians, and, 
by his own act, made Crawford a captain, an act for which 
he had the Governor's authority. On receiving his com- 
mission, Captain Crawford recruited a full company in his 
'Own neighborhood and led it in the march westward. After 
some further military service, he returned to his home in 
Virginia, and resumed his work as a farmer and surveyor. 

Twelve years or more pass, and Crawford appears 
again upon the scene as a soldier. He is now living on the 
Yough. It is 1774 and "Dunmore's war" is going on. Lord 
Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia, has marshalled 
.an expedition against the tribes of Indians in the Ohio val- 
ley. Scenes of barbarity and savage cruelty have been en- 
acted by these tribes. Far and wide, there has been con- 
sternation. The settlements have been raided and ravaged. 
The whole frontier is in a blaze. The red men resent the 
■encroachments of the whites. They seek revenge for the 
massacre of their people at Captina and of Logan's family 
and kindred at Yellow Creek — seek fierce, immediate, indis- 
criminate revenge. 

Western Pennsylvania is roused. "We have every rea- 
son to apprehend that we shall not long be exempt from 
the calamities of a savage war." The settlers in what is 
now Washington and Greene counties flee in large num- 
bers, to the east side of the Monongahela, and many flee 
to the east side of the mountain. The men of this region 
build forts and blockhouses. One is built at Stewart's 
Crossings. Valentine Crawford, brother of William, builds 
what he calls "a verv strong blockhouse" on Jacob's creek, 



MILITARY HISTORY ITS' 



and says : "The neighbors, what few of them have not run. 
away, have joined with me, and we are builcUng a stockade 
fort at my house." Gilbert Simpson builds a fort on Wash- 
ington's land where Perryopolis now stands. A dozen forts 
or more are built in the present county of Fayette, and 
Valentine Crawford writes to Washington in June, 1774: 
"If we had not had forts built, there would not have been, 
ten families left this side of the mountains besides what are 
at Fort Pitt." A large scouting party is sent out after strag- 
gling Indians who have been plundering and murdering 
within four miles of the Monongahela river on the western- 
side ; and in this same month of June a company is raised 
by William Crawford, living at Stewart's Crossings, and. 
taken to Fort Pitt to join the Dunmore expedition. 

Lord Dunmore, "an ambitious, energetic man," musters- 
a strong force, a force of about three thousand border troops. 
One wing, composed of men from the Holston, W'atauga. 
and Kanawha settlements, is commanded by General 
Andrew Lewis ; the other wing, the right or northern, is 
led by the Earl himself. Lewis assembles his men near 
the headwaters of the Great Kanawha, and marches them- 
to the mouth of that river at Point Pleasant. Here, October 
10, 1774, in early morning, he is attacked by a force of 
nearly a thousand warriors, led by Cornstalk, the famous 
Shawnee chief. The battle rages all day long, but it ends 
in the defeat and retreat of the Indians. 

The right wing of Lord Dunmore's army comes west- 
ward by way of AMnchester and Cumberland, over the 
mountains and through our county to Redstone (now 
Brownsville ) , thence to Fort Pitt. From Fort Pitt he goes 
down the Ohio "with a flotilla of a hundred canoes, besides 
keel-boats and pirogues," to the mouth of the Hockhocking 
river, builds a stockade there, presses westward to the Sci- 
oto, fortifies himself on the Pickaway plains near Chillicothe, 
sends word to Lewis to join him at this point, and sends 
out detachments against neighboring Indian towns. 

Among these detachments is one commanded br 



17i CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

William Crawford, now a major, who with his company has 
come with Dunmore's army from Fort Pitt. Lord Dun- 
more knows and values Crawford. Last year (1TT3), he 
visited Crawford, spent some time at his humble home on 
the banks of the Yough, and probably went with him to 
look at the land round about, with a view to making an 
investment. When Lewis was in the Kanawha valley in 
June, Lord Dunmore had sent word to the officer in com- 
mand at Fort Pitt: "You could not do better than send 
Captain William Crawford with what men you can spare 
to join him, to co-operate wdth Colonel Lewis, or to strike a 
blow himself, if he thinks he can do it with safety. I know 
him to be prudent, active and resolute." 

But, instead of going with the left wing to serve under 
Lewis, he accompanies the right wing and serves under the 
Earl of Dunmore. Neither he nor his commander saw much 
service in the campaign. Crawford is sent to destroy a 
defiant Lidian town, called Salt-lick town, in Franklin 
county, Ohio, and he destroys it, takes fourteen prisoners 
and rescues several white captives. But the spirit of the 
Indians has been "broken by their defeat" at Point Pleas- 
ant. A treaty of peace is negotiated, the Lidians agreeing 
to surrender all claim to the lands south of the Ohio. 

So ended Dunmore's war ; a short war, less than six 
months in duration, but one which had great results. It 
has been truthfully said of this war that "it was the first 
in the chain of causes that gave us for our western frontier 
in 1TS3 the Mississippi and not the Alleghanies." It cowed 
the northwestern tribes and "kept them quiet for the first 
two years of the Revolutionary struggle," and allowed the 
advance of civilization westward. 

On the 13th day of November, 177-I, Crawford arrived 
at his home at Stewart's Crossings (New Haven), and the 
next day he wrote Washington : "Sir, I yesterday returned 
from our late expedition against the Shawanese, and I think 
we may with propriety say we have had great success, as 
we made them sensible of their villainy and weakness, and 



MILITARY HISTORY IT. 



I hope made peace with them on such a footing" as wiU be 
lasting, if we can make them adhere to the terms of agree- 
ment." 

We do not know the names of the men of his com- 
pany, or anything of the losses which the company may 
have sustained. 

THE REXOLUTION. 

Fayette county, to use its present name, cordially 
•approved the stand made by the colonies against the aggres- 
sion of the mother country in 1775. The news of Lexing- 
ton and Concord. April l!)th, 1775, brought forth an out- 
burst of enthusiastic patriotism. Local issues were for the 
time forgotten. The partisans of Mrginia and the partisans 
of Pennsylvania in the boundary line contention were of 
one mind as to the sacred cause of American liberty. 

Lhider the call of the Pennsylvanians, the people of 
Westmoreland county ( Layette being included in it at that 
time) met Alay ICi, 1775, at Hannastown, the county seat, 
and adopted a series of radical and energetic resolutions 
which amounted almost to a declaration of independence, 
arranging for the forming of regiments and the taking of 
measures for defense in case of British invasion, and 
announcing to the world that they were ready to oppose 
the acts of "a wicked ministry and a corru])ted Parliament" 
with their "lives and fortunes." 

On the very same day, a meeting, under Virginian aus- 
pices, was held in P^ittsburgh, at which "the inhabitants of 
that part of Augusta county that lies on the west side of 
the Laurel Hill" adopted resolutions of similar import, and 
appointed a committee of defense. Twenty-eight prominent 
and influential citizens were put on this committee, several 
of them being residents of the present Fayette county and 
one of them, Alajor William Crawford, being a resident of 
what is now New Haven. 

During the fall of that year, Crawford recruited a bat- 
talion that came in time to be known as the Seventh Vir- 
ginia Regiment. On the 12th of January, 1776, he was 



176 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth Virginia ; and on 
the 11th of the following" October, he was commissioned 
colonel of the Seventh by act of Congress, his commission 
dating from August IJrth. The men under his command 
were chiefly from southwestern Pennsylvania, then claimed 
by Virginia, and some of them were, no doubt, from the 
Yough region. They were with Washington in the battle 
of Long Island August 27th, and in the retreat through New 
Jersey into Pennsylvania. They crossed the Delaware with 
him that Christmas night when he advanced upon the 
enemy, though the river was full of floating ice and the 
air full of blinding sleet and snow. They were in the battle 
of Trenton the next day, the battle of Princeton January 3d 
1777, the battle of the Brandy wine September 11th, and that 
of Germantown October 4th. Crawford, their colonel, was 
sent out with a detachment of light-armed men acting as 
scouts during the operations round about Philadelphia, in 
the fall of that year, in which service Washington said : 
"He rendered efficient service." In the battle of the Brandy- 
wine, "he took an active and prominent part," according to 
Washington, and "came near being captured" ; and in the 
battle of Germantown, General Reed said that Crawford 
had proved himself "a very good officer." 

In November of that year, the Congress requested Gen- 
eral Washington to send Crawford to Pittsburgh "to take 
command, under Brigadier-General Hand, of the Conti- 
nental troops and militia in the Western Department," the 
savages again becoming troublesome along the border. 
After going to York, Pennsylvania, where the Congress was 
then in session and receiving instructions, he came westward 
to his home at Stewart's Crossings and then to Fort Pitt. 

Washington spoke of him as "a brave and active 
officer," and the officers of his regiment, on separating from 
him, presented him with an address in which they said : 
"We beg leave to take this method of expressing our sense 
of the warmest attachment to you, and at the same time 
our sorrow in the loss of a commander who has alwavs been 



MILITARY HISTORY 177 



influenced by motives that deservedly gain the unfeigned 
esteem and respect of all those who have the honor of serv- 
ing under him. Both officers and soldiers retain the strong- 
est remembrance of the regard and afl:ection you have ever 
discovered towards them; but as we are well assured that 
vou have the best interest of your country in view, we 
should not regret, however sensibly we may feel the loss 
of you, that you have chosen another field for the display 
of your military talents. 

Permit us, therefore, to express our most cordial wish 
that you may find a regiment no less attached to you than 
the Seventh, and that your services may ever be productive 
of benefit to your country and honor to yourself." 

To this address. Colonel Crawford sent an appropriate 
and appreciative reply. 

The feelings expressed in this communication from the 
men of the regiment were, no doubt, the feelings entertained 
toward Colonel Crawford by all those who, at various times 
and in various places, served under his command. 

He was courageous and reliable. He interested him- 
self in the comfort of his soldiers. With all his fearlessness 
and vigor, he was prudent. Indications are not lacking that 
he had skill in the leadership of men, though it mav be he 
was not capable of large, independent command. He was 
trusted by those above him, and those under him. He was 
considerate and kind, and yet firm. In fact, he was a rigid 
disciplinarian, from all accounts. A credible storv is told 
that a soldier, named Rotruck, who lived on the west side 
of the Yough river not far above our present borough lim- 
its, came home on a furlough to see his sick wife. For 
some reason, he overstayed his leave of absence. Colonel 
Crawford, then at home, hearing of the matter, had the 
man arrested and the case investigated ; believing the man 
guilty of desertion, he ordered that he be shot at once. 
Tradition adds that the wife came to the Colonel on bended 
knee, begging the life of her husband, and, finding her 
entreaties to avail nothing, she pronounced a fearful curse 



178 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

upon him, devoting" him to a death of torture and unspeak- 
able horror, and his descendants to hves of imbecility and 
shame. 

Another regiment, raised in southwestern Pennsylvania 
in 1777, was the Thirteenth Virginia, often called the "West 
Augusta Regiment." It was intended for border service, 
and was raised chietiv through the efforts of Crawford, 
whom the Governor of Virginia appointed its first Colonel. 
It was stationed in detachments at various points on the 
Ohio and Alleghany rivers. Under the authority of Penn- 
sylvania, a company was raised in Westmoreland county in 

1776, with Joseph Erwin as its captain. It took part in the 
battles of Long Island, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine and 
Germantown, and was mustered out at Valley Forge, New 
Year's day, 1778, its term of enlistment having expired. 

The Eighth Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line con- 
sisted of seven companies from Westmoreland county and 
one from Bedford, was raised in the summer of 1776, and 
served until the close of the war. Eneas Mackey was the 
first Colonel ; George Wilson, of New Geneva, Fayette 
county, the first Lieutenant-Colonel. After their death in 

1777, Daniel Brodhead became Colonel, and Richard Butler 
Lieutenant-Colonel. 

The regiment was at Bound Brook, N. J., in the winter 
and spring of 1777, and a detachment of it was sent that 
summer with Morgan in his Northern campaign. The regi- 
ment was ordered to Fort Pitt afterward. It went, under 
General Mcintosh's directions, to the Wyoming and West 
Branch valleys to suppress Indian insurrections, and to the 
mouth of the Beaver and built Fort Mcintosh (where the 
town of Beaver now stands), and to the Muskingum, where 
they helped to build Fort Laurens. 

In these three regiments — the Seventh and Thirteenth 
Virginia and the Eighth Pennsylvania — there were many 
men from the Yough region, probably not a few of them 
from our own vicinity, and it can be safely asserted that 
this neighborhood was represented in the independent or- 



MILITARY HISTORY 1T9 



ganizatioiis that from time to time were formed for special 
service on the frontiers. 

Colonel Crawford took an active part in these border 
expeditions. He built a stockade fort on the Alleghany 
river about sixteen miles above Fort Pitt, near the present 
towns of Parnassus and New Kensington. The fort was 
directed by General Mcintosh to be called Fort Crawford, 
and Crawford at intervals was in command of it. He went 
with the expedition that resulted in the building of the forts 
Mcintosh and Laurens and in "several minor expeditions 
against the Indians." George Rogers Clark wished Craw- 
ford to accompany him in his campaign against the Illinois 
country, but Crawford felt obliged to decline the invitation. 
Clark came from Williamsburg, Virginia, with a small force, 
to Redstone (now Brownsville), where he gathered a few 
recruits, and on the 13th of May, 1778, left Redstone bound 
for the Falls of the Ohio ( Louisville ) , with about a hundred 
and fifty soldiers and with about twenty families, on their 
way to Kentucky, who desired his protection. In due time 
he reached the Illinois country, captured Kaskaskia and 
Vincennes, dealt a crushing blow to the Indians and their 
British allies, extended our territory westward and rendered 
a most valuable service to his country for all time to come. 

LOCHRy's EXPEDITION. 

The Indians becoming alarmingly hostile and aggres- 
sive in 1780, George Rogers Clark proceeded to raise a force, 
intending to march to the Wabash country and, if practi- 
cable, capture Detroit, the seat and center of the British 
influence in the Northwest. He went back and forth from 
the Falls of the Ohio to Fort Pitt seeking troops, but his 
progress was slow. It is said "he hoped to raise the bulk 
of his forces" in western Pennsylvania, but from various 
causes his hopes were not realized. Colonel Crawford, with 
whom he had served in the Dunmore war, aided him to the 
best of his ability in securing troops. 

From Westmoreland countw 110 men joined the expe- 



180 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

dition, some of whom, as we know, belonged to that part of 
the county which was afterward erected into Fayette ; and 
these 110 men were put under the command of Colonel 
Archibald Lochry, County Lieutenant. Sixty of the men 
belonged to Captain Thomas Stokely's Rangers, and fifty 
of them were new recruits. They went down the Ohio in 
flat boats to Fort Henry (Wheeling), expecting to join Gen- 
eral Clark at that point, but finding that he had gone further 
down the river, Lochry and his men proceeded to a point 
some miles below the mouth of the Great Miami, August 
24, 1789, where they were surprised by a band of Indians 
under Joseph Brant and "were all slain or captured with 
small loss to their assailants. Many of the prisoners, includ- 
ing Lochry himself, were afterwards murdered in cold blood 
by the Indians." 

Another company of men from Westmoreland, prin- 
cipally from the Yough region, went out to take part in this 
expedition. The company was recruited chiefly by James 
Paull, afterward Colonel Paull, of Dunbar township, and 
was commanded by Captain Benjamin Whaley, of Tyrone 
township. They floated down the river from Elizabeth to 
Fort Pitt, and from Fort Pitt, where Captain Isaac Craig's 
artillery joined them, to the Falls of the Ohio. But, "the 
other forces failing to assemble," the expedition was aban- 
doned and Captains Whaley and Craig, with their men, came 
home on foot through Kentucky and Virginia, "encounter- 
ing innumerable perils and hardships." 

Colonel David Williamson, of Washington county, led 
a force against the Indians in the Muskingum valley in 1781 
and again in 1782. In his second expedition, he fell upon 
the hapless, peaceful Moravian Indians, "the Christian Indi- 
ans," and massacred them, a deed of revolting cruelty. It 
is not known that any soldiers from Fayette county were 
in either of these expeditions. If there were any, let us 
hope that the}' were among the eighteen men who protested 
against the slaughter of those innocent people, and who 
withdrew from the scene, calling on God to witness that they 
abhorred the deed about to be done. 



MILITARY HISTORY 181 



On the 24th of Alay, 1782, a force of 480 mounted men 
assembled at Mingo Bottom, on the Ohio river, about two 
and a half miles below Steubenville. These men were about 
to take part in an enterprise in which our own neighborhood 
was profoundly interested : 

Crawford's sandusky ExrEDiTioN. 

Many of the men were from the Yough, and the leader 
was the sturdy and well-tested soldier, William Crawford, 
of Stewart's Crossings, New Haven, now in the fiftieth year 
of his age. It was an expedition, long felt to be absolutely 
necessary, to put down the hostile tribes in the neighborhood 
of the Sandusky river, in what in now Ohio. The fierce 
VVyandots and Delawares and Shawnees, known as the San- 
dusky Indians, were bitter enemies of the Americans and, 
encouraged as they were by the British commandant at 
Detroit, they kept up an unceasing warfare against the fron- 
tier settlements. General Washington said: "I am con- 
vinced that the possession or destruction of Detroit is the 
only means of giving peace and security to the western 
frontier," and General William Irvine, now in command at 
Fort Pitt, said : 'Tt is, I believe, universally agreed that 
the only way to keep Indians from harassing the country is 
to visit them. But we find, by experience, that burning their 

empty towns has not the desired effect They must be 

followed up and beaten, or the British, whom they draw 
their support from, totally driven out of their coimtry. I 
believe if Detroit was demolished, it w^ould be a good step 
toward giving some, at least temporary, ease to this coun- 
try." 

This was the belief of Colonel Crawford and, though 
he had no intention of going with this Sandusky expedition 
Oi 1T82, he cordially approved and recommended it. There 
was no difference of opinion as to the necessity of it, and 
it was "as carefully considered and as authoritatively 
planned as any military enterprise in the West during the 
R.evolution." its promoters being not only "the principal 
military and civil officers in the Western Department, but 



182 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

a large proportion of the best known and most influential 
private citizens."" 

The expedition was made up of volunteers from the 
present counties of Fayette, Westmoreland and Washington, 
a number of them from the Youghiogheny valley. Colonel 
Crawford was prevailed upon to go, and with him went 
his son, his son-in-law, his nephew, and not a few friends 
and neighbors. On the IGtli of May, he made his will, and 
on Saturday morning, the 18th, he left home, went to Fort 
Pitt, had an interview with General Irvme, joined the 
troops at Mingo Bottom on the 24th, was chosen commander 
by a vote of the men, started into the wilderness Saturday 
morning, the 25th of May, reached the Sandusky plains in 
nine days, and on the -Ith of June entered one of the Wyan- 
dot towns and found it deserted. The same afternoon his 
army met a British force, called Butler"s Rangers, and about 
200 Indians. The Indians had learned of the expedition, 
and had sent runners to Detroit asking help. Captain A-Iat- 
thew Elliott, a tory from Path valley, Pennsylvania, and the 
notorious Simon Girty, "the white renegade,'" were with 
the Indians and British. 

The battle lasted until sundown without marked advan- 
tage on either side. Colonel Crawford lost five killed and 
nineteen wounded ; his opponents lost six killed and eight 
wounded. 

The Americans "slept by their watch-fires in the grove" 
from which the enemy had been dislodged, and the enemy 
camped for the night upon the open plain. The next morn- 
ing neither side made attack, but, in the afternoon, 140 
Shawnee warriors, painted and plumed, came from the south 
and took their position beside the Delawares and Wyandots, 
while small bodies of savages were seen coming to the scene 
of conflict. Lieutenant Rose said, "They kept pouring in 
hourly from all quarters." 

A council of officers was held, and a retreat was de- 
cided upon. Fires were burned over the graves of the dead 
to prevent discovery. Seven of the wounded were put upon 



MILITARY HISTORY 183 



Stretchers. The others, less seriously wounded, were put 
upon horses. Crawford and his imperilled army began the 
retreat as the darkness fell, but they were no sooner in 
motion than the Shawnees and Delawares attacked them, 
inflicting some loss and causing much confusion. 

Three of the divisions hurried off from the route taken 
by the advance guard, and some of the men got into a 
swamp or "cranberry marsh." 

At break of da}-, the retreating army reached the de- 
serted Wyandot village. Many had become separated from 
the main body, some of whom were captured b}' the Indians, 
while others found their way home through the untenanted 
forests, but somewhat more than three hundred had been 
able to keep together. 

Among those who failed to appear when the divisions 
of the army had come together was Colonel Crawford him- 
self, and no one could give an}' information concerning him. 
The surgeon. Dr. Knight, and one of the guides, John 
Slover, were also missing. 

Major David Williamson was now in command in 
Crawford's absence, and the retreat was continued. At noon 
of June Gth, the army found that it was being pursued, and 
that the pursuers were gaining on it. The woodland had 
almost been reached when the men began to be pressed by 
the foe, and at two o'clock in the afternoon they came to a 
stand on the eastern edge of the Sandusky plains, near Olen- 
tangy creek, five miles south of the present town of Bucyrus, 
in what is now Crawford county, Ohio. A battle followed 
between the Americans and the allied British and Indians. 
The Americans were "attacked on the front, left flank and 
rear," but stood their ground manfully. Then came on "a 
furious thunder storm," with torrents of rain that rendered 
much of the powder useless. The battle had lasted but an 
hour when the enemy withdrew. 

The retreat was continued with occasional skirmishes, 
the last shot being fired near the present town of Crestline. 
On the loth of June, the little army reached ^lingo Bottom 



184 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

and crossed the Ohio. The next day they were discharged, 
and thus a sad and disastrous campaign of only twenty days 
"came to an end." 

Many of the missing came in afterwards, but Colonel 
Crawford, who had been separated from his army the night 
of the retreat of June 5th, was captured; was taken by sev- 
enteen Dela wares to the Half King's town (Upper San- 
dusky), thirty-three miles to the west, where the chief 
painted his face black and started with him and Dr. Knight 
and other prisoners to a town of the VVyandots, then to a 
Delaware town on the Little Tymochtee Creek. All the pris- 
oners, except Crawford and Knight, were tomahawked on 
the way. Near the present town of Crawfordsville, in the 
northern part of Wyandot county, Ohio, Crawford was put 
to death amid indescribable tortures and indignities. He 
was tied to a stake, stripped naked, his hands bound behind 
him. A fire was made near enough to scorch him. "Powder 
was shot into his body, and burning fagots shoved against 
him." His executioners taunted him, Simon Girty, "the 
white renegade," prominent among them. For two hours 
he bore his excruciating suffering with unflinching fortitude, 
"speaking low and beseeching the Almighty to have mercy 
on his soul." He fell, and the savages scalped him and 
threw hot coals upon his head. Then he rose blinded, black- 
ened, burnt almost to a crisp, walked once or twice about 
the stake and fell dead. At sundown, June 11, 1782, the 
spirit of Crawford passed to rest, while for hours afterward 
the Indians danced in fiendish glee around his charred and 
lifeless body. 

The tidings of Crawford's tragic and awful death 
spread gloom over all the settlements, called forth utter- 
ances of deep sorrow from Washington and all his military 
associates, and darkened the home from which he had 
reluctantly taken his departure less than a month before. 

A monument, eight and a half feet in height, stands on 
the spot where the massacre occurred, and bears the follow- 
ing inscription : 




THE SCENE OE CRAWFORD'S DEATH 



186 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



"In memory of Colonel Crawford, who was burned by 
the Indians in this valley. Erected bv the Pioneer Associa- 
tion of Wyandot county, Ohio, August 30, 1877." 

The Colonel's son, John, reached home, but his nephew,, 
William, and his son-in-law. William Harrison, were put to 
death b}- their Indian captors. Dr. John Knight, after a 
thrilling experience, made his escape and reached Fort Pitt 
on the -tth of July, 1782. John Slover made a hair-breadth 
escape from his torturers and reached Fort Pitt July 10th, 
James Paull, of Dunbar township, became separated from 
the army, but with almost incredible perseverance in over- 
coming difficulties, he reached home. Although but twenty- 
two years of age, he had already rendered important mili- 
tary service, and afterward he served with distinction in 
Harmar's campaign of 1790. He died July 9, 18-11, in the 
81st year of his age. John Sherrard, a home-friend of 
Paull, reached home, though for a time separated from the 
army and in imminent peril of capture. 

The State of Pennsylvania promptly paid the losses 
sustained by those who had served in the expedition, and^ 
under a special law, granted pensions to all who had re- 
ceived injuries of any kind. 

We do not know the number of Revolutionary soldiers 
who, at some time or other, have lived here. There are 
well-known names among them, at an}- rate, as Peter Still- 
wagon, Sr., a sergeant who took part in many battles, 
Trenton, Princeton and others, was captured and for nearly 
two years lay prisoner in New York, which at the time was 
in possession of the British. George Mathiot served in a 
regiment from Lancaster county. William Turner, of the 
8th Pennsylvania line, lived here in 1835, at the age of 87 
years. An Englishman who had served in the American 
army came here after the w^ar, and was a clerk and also a 
teacher. Jacob Buttermore, of Berks county, was a mem- 
ber of the "German regiment" for four years and eight 
months. He enlisted, August, 177(3, in Captain Peter Boy- 
er's company ; was in the battles of Trenton, Princeton and 



MILITARY HISTORY 187 

Mommouth and in Sullivan's Indian campaign (spring of 
1780) ; was wounded at Trenton, though he continued in the 
service vuitil the regiment was mustered out, New Year's, 
day, 1781. He died in Connellsville township in 1820, and 
was buried in the Quaker burial ground. John Sherrard,, 
later of Dunbar township, went from Lancaster county in 
what was known as the "Flying company," and was in the- 
campaign for the relief of Boston. 

THE WHISKY INSl^RRECTION. 

At the suggestion of Alexander Hamilton, secretarv of 
the treasur}', a bill was passed by congress, March 3, 1791, 
imposing a tax of four pence per gallon on all distilled 
spirits. This excise law was extremely offensive to the 
counties of southwestern Pennsylvania. The farmers had 
a very limited home market for their grain, and they had 
found that the grain could not be carried over the moun- 
tains to the eastern market at a profit, unless converted into 
whisky. "A horse," said they, "can carry only four bushels 
of rye, but a horse can carry twenty-four bushels of rye 
when turned into whisky." Every fifth or sixth farmer, 
in most localities, had a "still house," and was a distiller as 
well as farmer ; in the winter converting his own grain and 
that of his neighbors "into a portable and saleable article." 
The excise law was energetically opposed on the ground 
that it was not only an interference with their political 
rights and liberties, but a financial calamity, consuming, as 
they said, "what little money the sale of whisky brings into 
the country." The tax on distilled spirits was "regarded 
in the same light as the citizens of Ohio would now regard 
a United States tax on lard, pork or flour." Great excite- 
ment prevailed from the time the law was enacted until in 
179-1 it amounted to an insurrection. Washington county 
took the most active part, but Greene, Westmoreland, Alle- 
gheny and Fayette were not inactive. Meetings were held. 
Collectors were denounced, resisted and, in some instances, 
assailed, tarred and feathered, beaten, threatened, bovcot- 



188 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

ted, or, as in the case of General Neville and Benjamin 
Wells, their homes destroyed. Military organizations were 
formed. The United States mail was interfered with. At 
"Braddock's Field," Ai:gust 1, 1794, an immense crowd 
assembled, "of which a good proportion was composed of 
militia men and volunteers under arms," and hostile oper- 
ations were freely talked of and even determined upon. 

The excitement grew so violent and the proceedings 
so turbulent that President W'ashington issued a procla- 
mation giving warning to the disaffected people ; the next 
day he appointed commissioners to visit the region involved 
with a view of restoring order, but all this failing to secure 
the end desired, he called out troops, to the number of fif- 
teen thousand men, under General Henry Lee, the "Light 
Horse Harry" of Revolutionary fame, and sent them to the 
scene of the insurrection. One wing of the army came 
westward by way of Bedford, Somerset and Mount Pleas- 
ant ; the other wing by way of Cumberland, and Uniontown, 
meeting" on the Monongahela near Parkinson's P^rry, now 
Monongahela City. In a brief campaign the insurrection 
was crushed without battle or bloodshed. 

The Whisky Insurrection had the sympathy of many 
of the Fayette county people. Liberty poles, as they were 
called, were erected in various parts of the county, one of 
them at the L^nion furnace, Dunbar township. Only a few 
Fayette county men attended the incendiary "muster" at 
Braddock's Field. Findley, in his history of the insurrec- 
tion, says there were not more than twelve. Nor have there 
heen recorded any scenes of riot in our neighborhood, ex- 
cept the attack on the house of Benjamin Wells, collector 
of revenue for Fayette and Westmoreland counties. His 
house stood on wdiat is now 7th street. New Haven, and he 
had his office in it. Three times the house was attacked 
by night, April, 1793, November, 1793, and July, 179-4, 
On the last occasion, the rioting party set fire to the house 
.and destroyed it with all its contents. 



MILITARY HISTORY 189' 



THE WAR OF 1812. 

The Borough of Coniiellsville was incorporated at an 
important juncture in international history. Napoleon 
Bonaparte was on the throne of France. France and Eng- 
land were at war. England seized American vessels along 
the coasts of Europe, claiming" the right of search, crip- 
pling our commerce, and violating the law of nations toward 
neutrals. The causes of irritation multiplied until, at three 
o'clock in the afternoon of June 19, 1812, James Madison, 
president of the United States, by authority of Congress,, 
issued a declaration of war. Thus the Second War for 
Independence, as it has justly been styled, was legally be- 
gun, after several years of exasperating experiences. 

Governor Snyder, of Pennsylvania, sustained the na- 
tional government in its course, and devoted himself faith- 
fully to the work of securing troops. 

Recruiting began at once in Fayette county. A com- 
pany under Captain Thomas Collins, of Uniontown, left the 
county seat in August, going to Oswego and the New York- 
frontier. A company was raised in Connellsville in Sep- 
tember. Its captain was James Whaley ( born March 20,. 
1788, in Tyrone township), whose father, Benjamin Wha- 
ley, had been a captain in Revolutionary times. George 
Huey was first lieutenant and Hugh Ray, second. The 
sergeants were Andrew Reece, Patrick Adair, Crawford 
Springer and Abram Kilpatrick. The corporals were Henry 
Jones, Aaron Agen, Henry Haselton and John Marple. 
John Robbins was drum-major, George Biddle drummer 
and Charles Long fife-major. 

A dinner was given the company at David Barnes' 
house (afterward the Page House), on Main street the; 
day of its departure for the war, and a farewell address 
was made by ''Father" Connelly. The company crossed 
the river to New Haven and marched thence to Pittsburgh 
where, on the second day of October, 1812, they were mus- 
tered into service, assigned to a regiment commanded by 
Colonel Robert Patterson and taken to the armv of the 



190 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CON NELLSVILLE 

northwest of which General Wilham Henry Harrison, tlie 
liero of Tippecanoe, was at the head. 

In the summer of that year, an unsuccessful campaign 
under General William Hull, had ended in the surrender 
of Detroit and the loss of Michigan. On the 22d of Jan- 
uary, 1813, General James Wilkinson was defeated by the 
British and Indians near the Maumee Rapids. On reach- 
ing the field of operations, Harrison, whose aim was to 
retake Detroit and invade Canada, was obliged to go into 
winter quarters at Fort Aleigs on the Maumee River, some 
miles south of the present city of Toledo. 

Here our Connellsville men were stationed for the win- 
ter, but when the spring and summer came, they were kept 
busy in a series of skirmishes and sieges until, on the 5th 
•of October, Harrison's army totally routed the enemy on 
the River Thames, Canada, recovered all that Hull had 
lost and, with Perry's great naval victory of September 10, 
gained for the Americans the full control of Lake Erie 
and a strong foothold in Canada. 

There were other Connellsville men, besides those in 
Captain Whaley's company, engaged in the War of 1812, 
as Mr. William Davidson, who had become a resident of 
the Borough four years before that war began and was 
through life one of our most influential citizens, and Major 
David Cummings. who was wounded and taken prisoner 
at the battle of Beaver Dam, Canada, remaining a prisoner 
for six months. Both he and Mr. Davison represented 
Payette county in the Legislature in after years. Major 
Cummings was the father of Dr. James C. Cummings, who 
w^as for many years a prominent physician of Connellsville, 
and a member of the Legislature in 1843-4. 

It is worthy of mention that another Connellsville man, 
a young man of twenty-three years, was one of the heroes of 

THE ALAMO. 

T)avid P. Cummings, son of Ala j or David Cummings, was 
graduated from Jefterson College, Canonsburg, Pa., during 



MILITARY HISTORY 191 



the excitement occasioned bv the Texan war for indepen- 
dence, and, at the earhest opportunity, he went to the scene 
of activity to take part in the struggle. He was one of the 
172 men who garrisoned the fort known as the Alamo, near 
San Antonio. Santa Anna, the Mexican dictator, with 
4,000 men, bombarded the fort for 11 days. The garri- 
son fought with unflinching courage until the interior of 
the fort was "drenched with blood and heaped with corpses." 
On the 6th of March, 1836, the fort was carried by storm, 
and not a soul escaped alive. Colonel David Crockett "fell, 
stabbed by a dozen swords ;"' Colonel Bowie, though ill in 
bed, and ]\Iajor Evans were shot. The whole garrison 
was slain, and the bodies were gathered into the center 
of the Alamo ( originally a Spanish mission and fort, an 
acre in extent ) and were burned to ashes. 

The Cummings family monument in Hill Grove ceme- 
tery bears an appropriate inscription, on one of its panels, 
to the young hero's memory. 

THE MEXICAN WAR. 

The INIexican War began with a slight collision on the 
Rio Grande between the American forces under General 
Zachary Taylor and the Mexicans under General Arista, 
in April, 18-16. On May 11th President Polk, in a special 
message to Congress declared that "war existed by the Act 
of Alexico," and Congress authorized him to call out 50,000 
volunteers. 

In the fall of 1846, a company was raised in Connells- 
ville and Uniontown. It bore the name of the "Fayette 
County Volunteers," and became Co. H of the Second 
regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. 

The recruiting in Connellsville was done under the 
direction of Dr. William Quail, at his office on Main street, 
a few doors above the Presbyterian Church. About 30 
men enlisted, among whom were Dr. Quail himself, Daniel 
Forrey, Henry N. Stillwagon, Peter A. Johns, Zephaniah 
Ellis Barnes, John Bishop, William Freeman, Alexander 



192 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Hood, Jackson Kilpatrick and his brother, John P. Kil- 
patrick, Samuel Page, x\ndrew Pritchard, James Shaw,. 
James Turner and Wihiani Turner. 

The first captain of Company H was Wilham B. Rob- 
erts, a furniture dealer in Uniontown, with Dr. Quail, first 
lieutenant. 

On the 2nd of January, 184T, the company marched 
from Uniontown to Brownsville, and went by boat from 
that point to Pittsburgh where the regimental organization 
was formed. Captain Roberts, of Company H, was made 
colonel. Dr. Quail succeeding him as captain. 

The regiment was taken by steamboat to New Or- 
leans, and thence by the J. N. Cooper, a sailing vessel, to 
Vera Cruz. It took part at once in the celebrated siege 
of \''era Cruz, under General Winfield Scott, lasting from 
March Tth, 1S4T. until March 27th, when the city sur- 
rendered. In the march from Vera Cruz to the interior,, 
the regiment was assigned to General Quitman's division, 
taking part in the battles of Cerro Gordo, April 18th, Con- 
treras, August 20th, and Cherubusco, the same day, in the 
bombardment of Chepultepec, September 12th and 13th, and 
in the triumphal entry into the City of Mexico, Tuesda}- 
morning, September 14th. It was one of the first regi- 
ments to plant the stars and stripes on the spot where once 
stood the Halls of the JMontezumas. 

We are not able to say what losses Company H sus- 
tained in these and other engagements. Many succumbed 
to the climate. Colonel Roberts died from disease in the 
City of Mexico, October 3, 1847, less than three weeks 
after the entry. His body was sent home and was laid 
to rest in the Methodist Episcopal burial ground with 
"every demonstration of sorrow and respect." John Stur- 
geon, first lieutenant of Company H, died in the City 
of Mexico, and his body was sent home with that of Colonel 
Roberts. 

Daniel Forrey, who had been a school teacher in New 
Haven and was second lieutenant in Company H, fell a 
victim to disease and died at Vera Cruz. 



MILITARY HISTORY 193 



Alexander Hood, whose father, Daniel Hood, Sr., had 
been a soldier under General Scott in the War of 1812, 
died of yellow fever in the City of Mexico. 

The army suffered greatly from sickness during the 
whole campaign. Many were not able to go farther than 
Vera Cruz. Eighteen hundred men were left behind at 
Puebla, and seven hundred died at Perote, on the summit 
of the Cordilleras. 

After the death of Colonel Roberts, Lieutenant Colonel 
John W. Geary, afterward a general in the Civil War and 
governor of Pennsylvania, took command of the regiment, 
which served until the close of the war. 

On being mustered out at Pittsburg, in July, 1848, 
Company H came b>' boat to Brownsville where it was met 
by an immense concourse of people and received an en- 
thusiastic welcome. Many people were there from Union- 
town and Connellsville, and there was great cheering, great 
beating of drums, great firing of salutes. The festivities of 
the occasion were marred, however, by an accident, the 
bursting of a small cannon, which resulted in the death of 
Samuel Austin, of Uniontown. He had himself been with 
the army in Mexico, but had come home from Vera Cruz 
disabled. He had gone with the Uniontown people to give 
welcome to his returning comrades. 

Quite a number of Connellsville men enlisted and 
served in other organizations, among whom were Thomas 
R. Davidson, John Andrew Cummings (a member of the 
Santa Fe expedition), Henry L. Reeger, of the 11th U. S. 
Infantry, and some who were in Captain P. N. Guthrie's 
company in the 11th Pennsylvania volunteers. 

OLD-THIE MUSTERS. 

Until 45 years ago, the militia laws of Pennsvlvania 
required the enrollment, with certain exceptions, of all able- 
bodied citizens between the ages of 18 and 45, to be 
trained to military duty, to be called out in cases of need 
and to hold annual drills or "training davs,'" everv enrolled 



194 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



man to attend these "musters" under penalty of a militia 
tax. In early days, the men attended the '"musters" with- 
out uniform or arms, going through the manual of arms 
with wooden guns, sticks and even cornstalks. Hence, 
they were commonly styled "the Cornstalk Militia." 

In time, however, militia companies were formed and 
regularly armed and accoutered. 

As early as the '20s, companies of militia were or- 
ganized in the important centers of the county. The first 
Connellsville company was the Youghiogheny Blues, or- 
ganized August 17, 1823. The younger Samuel Trevor was 
captain in 1824:, a Mr. Smith in 1825, Dr. Joseph Rodgers 
in 1831, a Mr. White in 1835. In its early days, Uriah 
Springer was first lieutenant ; Hiram Herbert, first ser- 
geant ; Provance McCormick, first corporal. The musi- 
cians were Samuel Keepers, Jacob Eicher and Solomon 
Reager. Among the "high privates" were Henry and 
Cyrus White, Robert Torrence, William, George and John 
Balsley, Jonathan Newmyer, Hiram Snyder, George But- 
termore, Josiah Stillwagon, John W. Phillips, Richard 
Crossland, George Ashman, George Nichols and Henry Y. 
Loar. The company wore blue uniforms, as its name im- 
plies, and carried fiint-lock muskets with immense bay- 
onets. The Blues always celebrated their anniversary by a 
parade on the 17th of August. They "turned out" upon 
every important occasion, including the -ttli of July. 

In 1824:, the 4:th of July was a gala day. The Mount 
Pleasant V^olunteers came over and, with our own Yough- 
iogheny Blues, paraded through the streets, and afterward 
sat down to a bountiful open-air dinner, at which William 
Davidson presided, several persons responded to toasts and 
Captain Samuel Trevor read the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence. 

A still greater day, in the history of the Blues, was 
Thursday, May 26, 1825. It was the day of Lafayette's 
visit to Uniontown, when making his second tour of Amer- 
ica. Many of the militia companies took part in the pro- 



MILITARY HISTORY 195 



cession, the Union Volunteers, the Pennsylvania Blues, the 
Fayette Guards and the Youghiogheny Blues. Late in the 
afternoon, thirteen guns were fired out the X^ational Road 
west of town. The companies were stationed on the hill. 
Lafayette appeared, drawn in an open carriage by four 
spirited bay horses. As he was driven along the main 
street of the county seat, the Union \'olunteers went before 
him, the other three companies following after him. The 
street was lined with cheering multitudes. Two triumphal 
arches spanned the street, and near the court house stood 
"an elegantly decorated platform" upon which Albert Gal- 
latin, late secretary of the treasury, delivered an address 
of welcome to the distinguished visitor. We cannot doubt 
that Captain Smith was proud of the Blues from Connells- 
ville, and that every man of them marched with erect head 
and elastic step, showing that they endorsed the inscription 
on one of the arches : 

"Our choicest welcome hereby is exprest 
In heartful homage to the Nation's Guest." 

But what greater day could there have been, after all, 
than the day of the "Big Muster." when the militia of the 
county met for training, as they did every year, sometimes 
in this place, sometimes in that. How great the excitement 
along the Yough, when the muster was held on the green 
level, the commons at the north end of New Haven. The 
country people for miles around, men, women and chil- 
dren, came to town in wagons, in buggies, on horseback 
and on foot. It was like "show day," and we hear that 
it was a "bigger day than the Fourth of July." 

From peep of day, there is stir and bustle. Tents are 
erected on the green level. The Youghiogheny Blues and 
the Youghiogheny Greens, our own two home companies, 
are ready to welcome the outside companies as they arrive. 
Here comes the Dunbar cavalry on the gallop, and, one 
after another, the Dunlap's Creek cavalry, the George's 
Creek cavalry, the Lafayette artillerists, the Union Volun- 
teers from Uniontown, the sharpshooters from Smithfield, 



196 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSNTLLE 

the "Swamp Blackbirds" from Perryopolis — company after 
company. 

The citizens are all in the streets, or at the doors and 
windows. The boys and girls go up to the Pinnacle to sec 
the company from Springfield coming into town by the 
Mud Pike, headed by the Salt Lick Buckwheat l^and, with 
fife and drum. 

When the militia is assembled, the roll is called. Tht 
drill is conducted. The general in command, in gorgeous 
uniform, with plumed hat and huge epaulettes, and mounted 
on a richly caparisoned horse, dashes up and down the 
line. 

The parade is long and splendid. Let us hope that the 
Youghiogheny Blues will not suffer from heat, in their 
heavy coats with high, stift" collars, and with their heavy 
muskets, weighing ten, twelve, some say fourteen pounds. 

Men from various places meet at the "Big Muster" to 
transact business, according to previous agreement, while, 
as for food and refreshments, there are booths and stands 
on the green level, on the Anchorage and along the streets 
where the dusty crow^ds can find biscuits, ginger bread, 
cakes and "small, home-brewed beer." 

The Youghiogheny Greens, of whom we have just 
spoken, was a company of militia, raised chiefly through 
the efl^orts of Herman Gebhart, at one time proprietor of 
a nail factory on Water street ; many of its members, how- 
ever, belonging to the New Haven side. It was in exist- 
ence as early as 1831, for it took part in the general muster 
at Uniontown in September of that vear. Henrv Black- 
stone was the first captain. The company was armed with 
rifles and wore, at first, green hunting shirts, afterward 
green uniform of the regulation kind. The old-fashioned 
musters, it may be added, were kept up until the Civil War. 

THE CIVIL WAR. 

When President Lincoln's proclamation was issued, 
April 15, 1861, calling for 75,000 volunteers to preserve the 



MILITARY HISTORY 1:')7 



Union. Fayette county responded so promptly that within 
six days a company, ninety-eight men strong", left Union- 
town, for Pittsburgh, to be mustered into the service of their 
country. This company became Company G. Eighth Penn- 
sylvania Reserves. 

Sixteen companies in all, were recruited in Fayette 
county during the progress of the Civil War. Connells- 
ville men were to be found in several of these companies, 
as, also, in companies raised in neighboring counties. Six 
of our men, for instance, enlisted in Pittsburgh in one com- 
pany, Companv B, Fifteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, and 
rendered faithful service in the army of the Cumberland. 
Twenty-five men from Connellsville, New Haven and vicin- 
ity were in Company K, Seventh Pennsylvania cavalry, also 
in the army of the Cumberland. Among the non-commis- 
sioned officers of the company were James J. Barnhart, of 
Juniataville, William Crossland, of Connellsville, and John 
N. Boyd, of New Haven. James Guthrie Taylor, of New 
Haven, was mustered in as Second Lieutenant of the com- 
pany, October 12, 1861, to rank from October Sth. He 
was wounded May 5, 1862, at Lebanon, Tenn., promoted 
to first lieutenant July 1, 1863, to rank from May 1, 1863; 
promoted to captain, Alarch 25, 186-1, to rank from March 
1, 186^. Captain Taylor w^as killed in battle at Lovejoy's 
Station, Georgia, in the Atlanta campaign, August 20, 186-1. 
He was the youngest brother of Mrs. John R. Johnston, 
of Connellsville. 

Company H, 142nd regiment, P. V., was recruited in 
Connellsville in August, 1862. It was at a critical junc- 
ture in the history of the war. The army of the Potomac 
had failed in its campaign against Richmond. The City 
of Washington was in great peril. Another call for vol- 
unteers had been issued. 

Joshua M. Dushane, who had been the last captain of 
the Youghiogheny Blues and who had hitherto been unable 
to leave home, decided to raise a company here in his own 
town ; and so on Thursday, August 8th, he posted notices 



198 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

in prominent places that there would be "a war meeting in 
the Presb3'terian Church" that night, and that there would 
be "good music and good speeches." When the hour of 
meeting arrived, the church was well filled. Mr. Alexander 
Johnston, an elder of the church, was called to the chair. 
A band of music discoursed patriotic airs. Rev. E. R. 
Donehoo, D. D., then a young man supplvnig the Presby- 
terian pulpit, afterward one of the most prominent minis- 
ters in Pittsburgh, delivered an eloc[uent and stirring ad- 
dress. Others spoke briefly; then volunteers were called for, 
and at once men began going forward to give their names 
at the secretary's table until, in a little while, two-thirds of 
the company had been raised. The other third was easily 
secured the next day. 

On Tuesday, August 13, 1863, at one o'clock p. m., 
the company left for Pittsburgh by the Pittsburgh and Con- 
nellsville railroad, a great crowd accompanying them to the 
station and a farewell address being delivered to them by 
Mr. John Fuller on Main street. At eight o'clock the com- 
pany left Pittsburgh by the Pennsylvania railroad for Har- 
risburg where it was mustered into service within a few 
days. It was assigned to the. 143nd Regiment, Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer Infantry, a regiment made up of three 
companies from Somerset county, and one from each of the 
counties of Westmoreland, Union, Mercer, Monroe, \en- 
ango. Luzerne and Fayette, and commanded by Robert P. 
Cummins, of Somerset county, colonel ; Alfred B. Mc- 
Calmont, of Venango, lieutenant-colonel ; and John Brad- 
ley, of Luzerne, major. 

On arriving at Harrisburg, the Connellsville com- 
pany elected Joshua M. Dushane, captain ; Daniel W. Dull, 
first lieutenant ; and Hugh Cameron, second lieutenant, and 
on being assigned to the 142nd regiment, it was designated 
Company H. The company roll, including a few men mus- 
tered in later than August, 1863, was as follows : Joshua 
M. Dushane, Daniel W. Dull, Hugh Cameron, George H. 
Collins, Isaac Francis, Jr., Joseph F. Forrey, William F. 



200 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Kurtz. Samuel Wilson, John V. Stouffer. James X. Walter, 
David B. Hood, Samuel H. Dull, J. Robinson Balsley, Jo- 
seph R. Brown, Joseph Balsley, William Whaley, Romanus 
Dull, Frederick Shearer, James D. Connell, James Mitts, 
Levi Firestone, Strickler Demuth, Richard Evans, William 
Helms, Edward Y. White, William H. Shaw, Abraham 
Eicher, Henry Kurtz, Winfield S. Hood. Josiah R. Balsley, 
David R. Gallatin, Jacob Artis, William A. Artis, William 
Artis, David Balsley, David Bingham, Husing Cooper, 
Alex. Collins, Jacob Clark, Joseph Coughman, Thaddeus 
Cunningham, James Cooley, Walter Dull, Stewart Durbin, 
John W. Eaglen, John C. Francis, Hawkins Firestone, 
Leroy W. Freeman, Gibson Helms, Garret Hall, Samuel 
Heffley, Josiah Hodge. William H. Harvey. Joshua M. 
Hart, Jesse Ingraham, Lloyd Johnston, Joseph N. John- 
ston, John H. Kern, Singleton Kimmel, Alex. Koover, Isaac 
Kerr, Henry Loughrey, John Loughrey, Leonard May, 
John Mitts, William Miller, Frederick Martin, Nathan W. 
Morris, Robert McLaughlin, Henry Nicholson, Jacob Ober, 
William H. Porter, John Rowen, William Ritenour, Con- 
rad F. Rist, Jeremiah Ritenour, Matthew Robbins, Ga- 
briel Rugg, Levi Stoner. William H. Sheppard, William 
Shisby, Jacob Saylor. John B. Stouffer, L. W. Shallenber- 
ger, Clayton Vance, William Williams, Charles H. White- 
ley, Jacob O. Walker and Wm. H. Whipkey. 

On being taken to Washington, the 143nd regiment 
was variously employed until in October, it was moved 
down the Potomac and. on the 13th of December, fought 
its first battle at Fredericksburg, Va., where it displayed 
great valor in the face of a destructive fire, and sustained 
great loss. It was at this time in the 1st brigade, 3rd divi- 
sion of the 1st corps, and in this its first battle, as in all 
that followed, made a record for bravery and efficiency of 
which none of its surviving members need be ashamed. It 
took part at Chancellorsville, May 2-4, 1863, and though 
not actively engaged it was for many hours exposed to a 
heavy artillery fire, and with the 1st corps covered the re- 
treat of General Hooker's army. It was almost directly on 



MILITARY HISTORY 201 



the front of the Connellsvihe company in this battle that 
Stonewall Jackson was killed by the fire of the Northern 
skirmish line. 

The 142nd was in the thick of the first day's fight at 
Gettysburg, July 1st, 1863, in which General Reynolds was 
killed, and the Union forces were pressed back by over- 
whelming numbers through the town. It contested the 
•ground with heroic courage and at immense cost. It held 
position on Cemetery Hill, July 2nd and 3rd, and though 
its losses were not so great as on the first day, it ren- 
dered faithful service and helped to turn back the tide of 
invasion and to send a thrill of joy and hope to the friends 
<oi the Union. 

On the re-organization of the army, tuider General 
Grant, in the spring of 1864, the 1-J:2nd became part of the 
3rd brigade, 1st division (General Wadsworth), 5th corps, 
imder General ^^'arren ; and on ]\Iay 4th crossed the Rapi- 
dan into the wilderness. From that day until the surren- 
der at Appomattox, April 9th, 1865, the 142nd was ever 
in the advance and behaved with unfailing gallantry and 
devotion to duty taking part in more than a dozen hard- 
fought battles, in many minor engagements, in forced 
marches, in trench digging and in wearisome sieges. The 
regiment was mustered out of service in Washington, D. 
C., on the 29th of May, 1865, taking part in the Grand 
Review in that city. 

It has been said by well-informed writers that no regi- 
ment in the Civil War surpassed the 142nd in the severity 
of its losses, and few equalled it. 140 officers and men 
were killed and died from wounds received in action, 430 
were wounded, 81 died of disease and from accidents, and 
158 were captured or missing. 

In the battle of Fredericksburg, one-third of those who 
went into the battle were lost; in the battle of Gettysburg, 
two-thirds were lost. At Fredericksburg, 250 officers and 
men were killed, wounded or captured. At Gettysburg, 
there were 336 officers and men present, of whom 211 were 



li 






''i^Mt^^ 



I 






-^ 



MONUMENT OF 142d REGIMENT AT GETTYSBURG 



MILITARY HISTORY 203 



lost. In other words, the reg-iment sustained a loss of 
sixty-three per cent in that battle. 

In later battles, the casualties were almost equally 
appalling. In the operations round about Petersburg, the 
142nd was under fire everv da\' for three months and, 
through the whole campaign under General Grant, the 
shattered ranks were being reduced, so that when the war 
closed, only 126 were left to answer the roll call. ( )ut of 
an enrollment of 935, a loss of 809 had been sustained. 

No company in the regiment suffered more severeh 
from "the accidents of war" than our Connellsville com- 
pany, Company H. Six of its officers were killed or mor- 
tally wounded. Sergeant William F. Kurtz was killed at 
Fredericksburg, and his body was never recovered. Ser- 
geant Joseph Balsley died, December 24, 1862, of wounds 
received at Fredericksburg, and Corporal Josiah R. Bals- 
ley was killed in the same battle. Sergeant William Wha- 
ley died July 27, 1863, of wounds received at Gettysburg. 
Lieutenant George H. Collins was killed in the Wilderness, 
May 5, 1864, and Lieutenant Isaac Francis, Jr., died at City 
Point, Va., February 15, 1865, of wounds received in bat- 
tle. In the battle of Fredericksburg alone, Company H 
lost 43 officers and men. 

The captain of the company. Captain J. M. Dushane, 
was taken prisoner in Gettysburg by the Confederate forces 
as thev pressed the first and eleventh corps through the 
town, in the afternoon of July 1, 1863. The captain had 
halted to give aid to a wounded comrade and, while so 
occupied, he was seized bv the enemy, in whose hands he 
remained for twenty months, undergoing an experience at 
once interesting and painful. He was taken afoot to Staun- 
ton, Va., and thence by railroad to Richmond, where he 
was put into the celebrated Libby prison, August 8, 1863, 
and kept until late in the following May, a period of be- 
tween 9 and 10 months. He was then taken to Macon, Ga. 
On the 28th of July, 1864, a body of Union prisoners, six 
hundred in number, was sent to Charleston, S. C, and 
put in the jail yard as a warning to the Federal besiegers. 



■20-t CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

who were then throwing missiles of destruction into the 
city. 

Captain Dushane was one of the six hundred, and after 
a stay in Charleston of over two months, he was removed 
to Columbia, S. C, on October 5th, where for almost five 
months he lay in a prison camp to which the prisoners had 
given the name of Camp Sorghum, in memory of its most 
abundant article of food. On the 38th of February, 1865, 
he left Wilmington, N. C, and having been exchanged, 
w^as brought to Annapolis, Md., where for some time he 
was detained in a hospital. He received an honorable dis- 
charge from service. May 15, 1865, and returned to his 
home, with physical disabilities from which he was long 
in recovering, the result of his long and trying experience 
as a prisoner of war. 

Of the regimental officers of the lJ:3nd, Major John 
Bradley died, January 3, 1863, of wounds received at Fred- 
ericksburg, and Colonel Robert P. Cummins was killed ai 
Gettysburg. It may be added that a monument, in honor 
of the regiment, was erected on Reynolds avenue, on the 
Gettysburg battle field and dedicated September 11, 1889, 
with addresses by Colonel Horatio N. Warren and Captain 
George R. Snowdon. 

THE lOTH REGIMENT, COS. C AND D. 

The organized militia of the State has for many years 
been legally known as the National Guard of Pennsyl- 
vania. The 10th regiment of the National Guard was 
established by Special Orders, No. 96, Section 11, November 
:28, 1873, with Colonel J. C. Black, of Greensburg, Pa., 
commanding. 

From 1875 until 1881, Connellsville was represented 
in that regiment by Company C, with three successive cap- 
tains, Joseph M. Morrow the first, Lloyd Johnston the sec- 
ond, James A. McCoy the third. 

In July, 1877, the National Guard was ordered out to 
suppress the famous Railroad riots in which the Union 
-Station, Pittsburgh, was burned and a great amount of 
railroad property destroyed by a mob. Company C, under 



206 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



Captain Alorrow, left Connellsville. Friday evening, July 
27th. on a Southwest Pennsylvania train impressed into 
the public service, arrived at 28th street, Pittsburgh, at 11 
o'clock, Saturday morning, and was encamped near the 
East Liberty Station during the fifteen days of its sojourn 
in the city. The rioting having ceased by the time of the 
Tenth's arrival, there were no very warlike duties to be per- 
formed. 

The most interesting encampment which the "old Com- 
pany C" attended was in August, ISTTi, in h^airmount Park, 
Philadelphia, during the Centennial, and its last encamp- 
ment was in August, 1881, at Thompson's Station, on the 
P . V. and C. R. R., opposite P>raddock. 

Another company of guardsmen was raised in our 
town, and was mustered in. May 5th, 1892, as Company D, 
of the 10th regiment, with George A. Munson, captain; 
Alexander Johnston, first lieutenant, and Samuel H. Du- 
shane, second lieutenant. Tn July of that year, the regi- 
ment, with others, was sent to Homestead, Pa., to put 
an end to the "labor war" at that place. The members of 
Company D, not having received their uniforms and being 
in citizen's dress, were somewhat scornfully styled by the 
strikers, "the Tenth Regiment Pinkertons." The men re- 
mained at Homestead thirty-one days, but without battle 
or bloodshed. 

On the outbreak of 

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 

the 10th regiment reported at Mt. Gretna, Pa., April 28th, 
1898, by order of the governor, for the purpose of enlist- 
ment in the United States service. As a volunteer regi- 
ment, the 10th was mustered into the service of the United 
States government. May 12th, 1898 ; Alexander L. Hawkins, 
colonel ; James E. Barnett, lieutenant-colonel ; Harry C. 
Cuthbertson and Eberhart Bierer, majors ; Dr. George W. 
NefT, of Masontown, surgeon ; Drs. Louis P. McCormick, 
of Connellsville, and John W. Coffin, of Beaver Ealls, as- 



208 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

sistant surgeons; H. B. Duncan, adjutant, E. B. McCormick,^ 
quartermaster, and Rev. Joseph C. Hunter, chaplain. 

Company D was officered by Frank B. Hawkins, of 
Washington, Pa., as Captain, Hustead A. Crow, of Con- 
nellsville, as First Lieutenant, and A. J. Buttermore, of 
New Haven, as Second Lieutenant. 

The regiment left Mt. Gretna, May 18th, 1898, for the 
Philippine Islands, passed through Pittsburgh May 19th, 
arrived at San Francisco, California, Alav 25th, lay in 
Camp Merritt until June 14th, embarked that day on the 
U. S. transport Zelandia and entered Manila Bay July 17th, 
The men built intrenchments until July olst at a point four 
miles south of Manila. That night they were attacked by 
the Spanish forces with a heavy fire of shell from Fort 
Malate. Most of the men of Company D were under fire 
for the first time, yet they stood like veterans, displaying 
great gallantry and repelling the attack made by a vastly 
superior force. 

The regiment was in the charge upon Manila in Au- 
gust, and in the battle with the Filipino insurgents at the 
De La Loma Church, February 4, 1899, and in several 
other stubborn and spirited engagements, including the cap- 
ture of Malolos. Captain Hawkins, of Company D, received 
an appointment to the regular army and was mustered out 
June 18th, 1899. Lieutenant Hustead A. Crow succeeded 
him and was commissioned as captain on the 21st of June, 
A. J. Buttermore becoming first lieutenant and Samuel V. 
Ulsh second. 

It is worthy of special mention and of grateful remem- 
brance that the somewhat more than 15,000 volunteer sol- 
diers in the Philippines served voluntarily for more than 
two months after the treaty of peace with Spain had been 
ratified in April, 1899, and their term of enlistment had 
expired. They were entitled to be mustered out. The 
Filipino insurrection had, however, broken out and if these 
volunteer regiments had been mustered out, the small force 
of regulars left behind would have been helpless. It would 



MILITARY HISTORY 209 



have been destroyed by overwhelming numbers. The vol- 
unteers said : "We will stay until the government can 
organize an army at home and bring it to the scene of 
hostilities."" They stayed until sufficient reinforcements 
came. They stayed cheerfully, willingly, uncomplainingly ; 
none more so than the men of Company D and the 10th 
Regiment. As President [NIcKinley said : "They suffered 
and sacrificed, they fought and fell, they drove back and 
punished the rebels who resisted Federal authority aird who 
with force attacked the sovereignty of the United States 
and its newly acquired territory." The 10th Regiment saw 
its severest service after its term of service had expired. 

President McKinley twice recommended to Congress 
that a special medal of honor be provided for every one 
of the men "regulars or volunteers, soldiers or seamen"' 
who had thus loyally served their country in a time of peril. 
The Congress, at its last session, acted upon the recommen- 
dation, a tardy acknowledgement of a noble service. 

In the campaign in the Philippines, our boys gained 
the name of "the Fighting Tenth," and received high praise 
in the official reports for their courage, steadiness and effi- 
ciency as soldiers. 

The regiment sailed Saturday, July 1st, 1899, on the 
U. S. transport Senator for San Francisco, stopping five 
days at Nagasaki, Japan, and touching at Yokohoma. On 
the 18th of July, a sore bereavement was experienced in 
the death of the gallant commander. Colonel Alexander L. 
Hawkins, who had been in failing health for some months, 
and when the Senator came into San Francisco Bay, August 
1st, the waiting multitudes were surprised and grieved to 
see the flag at half-mast. Funeral services in Colonel 
Hawkins' honor, were held August 5th, in the Masonic 
Temple, San Francisco, after which the body was sent 
under escort to Washington, Pa., where the burial took 
place. 

The regiment was mustered out at San Francisco, Au- 
gust 32nd, after a service of fifteen months and a journey 




HEADQUARTERS, 10th REGIMENT, NEAR LA LOMA CHURCH 
LA LOMA CHURCH 



MILITARY HISTORY 211 



by land and sea of more than seventeen thousand miles. On 
being mustered out, the regiment left for home in a special 
train of three sections, accompanied by a reception com- 
mittee that had come all the way from Pittsburgh, and 
arriving in that city. August 28, at two o'clock p. m. An 
enthusiastic welcome was given the men in Schenley Park, 
"participated in by many military and civic organizations," 
by the president of the United States (William McKinley), 
the Governor of Pennsylvania, Major General Merritt and 
Brigadier-General Greene. 

Company D reached Connellsville the next day (Tues- 
day, August 29th), and had a magnificent reception. The 
town was adorned with streamers and flags, the air was 
filled with music, the streets with people. The company 
was escorted, in an imposing parade, to Riverside Park 
where several addresses were delivered, followed by a ban- 
quet served by the ladies of the town at four o'clock p. m. 
in the opera house. 

The 10th Regiment, including Company D, took part 
in the memorable reception given Admiral Dewey in New 
York on his return from the Philippines, marching in the 
land parade Saturday, September 30th, 1899, and greeted 
with loud cheers along the entire route. 

A monument, erected by the State in accordance with 
an Act of Assembly appropriating $20,000 for the purpose, 
was unveiled and dedicated in Schenley Park, Pittsburg, 
on the 11th of June, 1904. The monument commemorates 
the services of the officers and men of the 10th Regiment 
who died while in the service of their country in the war 
with Spain. 

The following is the muster roll of Company D : 

Captain Frank B. Hawkins, Captain Hustead A. Crow, 
First Lieutenant Albert J. Buttermore, Second Lieutenant 
Samniie V. Llsh, First Sergeant James A. Stickel, Quar- 
termaster Sergeant Samuel S. Clark, Sergeants Robert L. 
Shaffer, George E. Mills, Alva M. Walters, Robert M. 
Boyer, James H. Mills, Corporals Walter E. Brown, John 




SPANISH INTRENCHMENTS AT MAI.ATE 
10th REGIMENT GOING INTO BATTLE, MALATE, AUGUST 13, 1! 



M 11. IT ARY HISTORY 2U 



S. Pape, Herman O. Welker. Charles E. Maloy, George 
W. Calhoun, Harry L. Bishop, Howard E. Cromwell, Wil- 
liam G. \'ance, Albert R. Lowclen, Thomas B. Critchfield, 
James E. Campbell, Patrick J. Conway, John \V. Findley, 
Franklin R. Kenney, Joseph Earle Shaw, Musician Samuel 
E. Bretz, Thomas R. Cunningham, Artificer John M. Mar- 
tin, Wagoner Joseph Ambrose, Cook Henry B. Clark, Mas- 
cot "Searchlight" William Doran, Earnest J. Beatty, Harry 
T. Boyd, Thomas D. Beatty, Frank Bishop, Arthur F. Col- 
lins, Andrew A. Calhoun, Isaac X. Conklin, Clark G. Coch- 
ran, Edward C. Caldwell, Clark Collins, Patrick Cummings, 
Richard J. Crossland, RoUo J. Conley, George E. Conn, 
James H. Cope, Richard T. Cunningham, John Lewis Cover, 
William E. DeBolt, James B. Duify, Harry A. Everly, 
David Forsythe, Earl L. Forsythe, Thomas L. Fagan, 
Thomas Goodwin, Harry Goldsborough, A'eal Gallagher. 
George B. Geman, James A. Gaffney, George A. Geddes, 
James C. Hamilton. Frederick Helms. Harry Hay, Joseph 
C. Herwick, Wilbur M. Holtz, Harry A. Irwin, Edgar C. 
Jennewine, Frank C. Johnson, Charles P. Kerr, Harry King, 
John A. Kesslar, Alexander A. Lempka, William H. Little, 
Joseph Levy, George C. Morgan, Frederick Menefee, Eu- 
gene R. Morgan, John R. Aliller, Oliver N. Morrison, 
James Hervy Martin, Andrew !Mentzer, Jr., Joseph Mc- 
Ivlannis, Edward P. McDowell, Frank A. AlcClary, James 
McKenna, James E. Nickel, Daniel J. Newell, George C. 
Neeb, James Novrcki, Albert H. Ogle, Frank B. Port, 
Blair W. Peck, Charles Pleasants. Charles J. Rosenecker, 
Frank B. Reid, Edward A. Smith, Charles Stitzer, Alva 
A. Snyder, Alexander A. Stillwagon, Jacob P. Sayler, Joel 
C. Strawn. Frank G. Sisley, Ernest Trump, Edward C. 
Torne, Henry I. Trout, Rudolf J. Thiempke. Matthew J. 
Welsh, Harry C. Wilson, Charles W. Wallace, Harry Wolfe, 
Allen W. Weimer, Morris W. Woods, Edward N. Wood, 
Edward Worley, James S. Young, Jr. 

Corporal Walter E. Brown, of Vanderbilt, was killed 
in the battle of Malate. Twenty-one officers and men were 



214 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVTLLE 

wounded during the campaign. The hst ol wounded is as 
fohows : Lieutenant A. J. Buttermore, Lieutenant S. V. 
Ulsh, Alva M. Wahers, Howard E. Cromwell, George W. 
Calhoun, Patrick Cummings, George B. Gemas, Chas. E. 
Maloy, Alva Snyder, Matthew J. Welsh, Thos. B. Critch- 
field, Harry L. Bishop, John A. Kesslar, Albert R. Lowden, 
Joseph Earle Shaw, Edward C. Caldwell, Eugene R. Mor- 
gan, James Novrcki, Charles J. Rosenecker, Henry L Trout 
and Charles W. Wallace. 

A provisional company of National Guardmen was or- 
ganized in Connellsville on the departure of Company D 
to the service of the LTnited States in the Spanish war, and 
continued its organization until Company D's return. It 
was commanded bv Captain Samuel H. Dushane, and was 
known as Company W, 17 th Regiment. 

On the sixth of July, 1900, Company D was re-organ- 
ized and resumed its place in the militia of the State as 
Company D, 10th Regiment, National Guards, Colonel 
James E. Barnett commanding. The first company com- 
mander, after the re-organization, was Captain Hustead 
A. Crow, folio we'd by Captain Alexander Johnston, Cap- 
tain John L. Gans, Captain Albert R. Lowden and the pres- 
ent commander, Captain Joseph H. Simpson. 

MILITARY SOCIETIES. 

Two societies, composed of survivors of the Civil War, 
are represented in Connellsville, the Grand Army of the 
Republic and the Union Veteran Legion. William F. 
Kurtz Post, No. 104, Grand Army of the Republic, was 
organized May 23, 1879, with the following charter mem- 
bers: Ed. Dunn, James S. Sanders, Edward Y. White, 
Rev. John A. Danks, Joseph M. Morrow, H. C. McCor- 
mick, Lloyd Johnston, R. Bruce Cox, J. M. Dushane, 
Henry Kurtz, Thomas M. Fee, R. P. Douglas, E. V. Good- 
child, James Cunningham, Dr. Geo. W^ Newcomer, M. 
Donley, R. D. Duncan, Irwin McCutcheon and Thomas 
Porter. The first officers were Ed. Dunn, commander ; R. 



MILITARY HISTORY 215 



Bruce Cox, Sr. vice commander ; Rev. John A. Danks, 
chaplain ; E. Y. White, quartermaster ; Henry Kurtz, adju- 
tant ; Joseph AI. Morrow, oi^cer of the day, and Thomas 
M. Fee, officer of the guard. The present officers are L. 
W. Port, commander; Lloyd Johnston, senior vice com- 
mander; Noah Kaufman, junior vice commander; J. R. 
Balsley, chaplain ; Henry Kurtz, quartermaster ; Thomas 
M. Fee, adjutant; A. J. Cunningham, officer of the day, and 
Thomas Gregg, officer of the guard. The present member- 
ship is -iG. 

Encampment No. 68, Union Veteran Legion was or- 
ganized May 15th, 1890. The roster at that time was as 
follows: James K. P. McKarns, 11th Penna. Infantry 
(Reserves) ; J. W. McMasters, 12th, Lot Rush 85th, J. Z. 
Pritchard, 102nd, Adam H. Kerr, 14(»th. J. M. Dushane, 
Wm. P. Clark, Samuel Heffiey, B. F. Boyts, Nathan W. 
Morris. Charles H. Whitely. all of the 142nd, John J. Flem- 
ing 148th, R. Bruce Cox and T. E. Warner, 1st Penna. 
Cavalry, Alfred W. Hood and Henry C. McCormick, 15th 
Penna. Cavalry, Isaac C. Shaw, 7th W. Va. Cavalry, G. C. 
Giles, 1st W. Va. Cavalry, James M. Russell, 1st Iowa Cav- 
alry, James K. Percy, 2nd Michigan Cavalry, William A. 
Barnes, 5th N. Y. Artillery, A. S. Cameron. 211th Pa. In- 
fantry, John C. Cox, Friend Rifles, Sickles' Brigade and 
John W. Moon, (ith W. Va. Cavalry. The present officers 
are A. J. Cunningham, colonel commander ; P. J. Kessler, 
lieutenant-colonel; Clark Collins, major; Chas. H. Whitely, 
chaplain; J. R. Balsley, officer of the day; Frank Miller, 
adjutant; Wm. P. Clark, c[uartermaster. The present mem- 
bership is 38. 

These societies, the Grand Army and the Veteran Le- 
gion, celebrate Appomattox Day, visit the cemeteries on 
Memorial Day, strew flowers upon the graves of the sol- 
dier dead, hold appropriate memorial exercises, take part 
in important local celebrations and in various ways seek 
to perpetuate kindly memories and to promote the cause 
of patriotism, benevolence and brotherly regard. 




THE HOME COMING OF COMPANY D 



MILITARY HISTORY 217 



The campaign in the PhiUppines is conimeniorated by 
two societies with which the Company D volunteers are con- 
nected. Camp Walter E. Brown, No. 4, Army of the Phil- 
ippines, was organized in Connellsville in 190;>. It holds 
monthly meetings, elects officers annually and takes part in 
patriotic observances. Joseph C. Herwick, Companv D, 
is the present commander of the camp. 

The 10th Penna. Regiment A'eteran Association has 
been in existence several years. It holds an annual re- 
union on the olst day of July, the anniversarv of the regi- 
ment's first battle, the battle of Malate. The last reunioiv 
was held in Donora, Penna. Captain Hustead A. Crow, 
of Company D, is the present president of the association. 
From this review of our military annals, it is evident 
that the Yough region has been represented in all the great 
American wars, from the first in which our land was freed 
from the yoke of foreign oppression, down to the last in 
which this nation of ours came to the relief of a neighbor 
who lay trembling in every nerve and bleeding at every pore, 
smote the heavy hand that had crushed that neighbor to the 
dust, and transformed the victim of Spanish tyranny and 
misrule into a free and independent state — the republic of 
Cuba. Men from the hills and valleys round about us fol- 
lowed Washington and Greene, followed Clark and Craw- 
ford and Wayne, foUowed Scott and Taylor, Grant, Sher- 
man, Sheridan, Thomas, Meade. ]\Ien from these streets 
and lanes were to be found on all the great battle fields of 
the Civil War, east and west, "above the clouds'" on Look- 
out Mountain, shoulder to shoulder on the historic heights 
of Gettysburg, in all the military departments from the Po- 
tomac to the Gulf, and in all the branches of military serv- 
ice, infantry, cavalry, artillery. It was the same in our 
last war. Wherever the Stars and Stripes were carried and 
wherever the roar of battle shook the trembling earth, sol- 
diers from Connellsville and New Haven were to be seen, 
some in Cuba, some in the Philippines, ten thousand miles 
between them. What the future may add to this chapter of 



318 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



military history, we do not know. One thing, however^ 
is sure, and that is, that whatever wars ma}^ come, what- 
ever battles may be fought, braver soldiers will never go 
forth from among us than those whose services are here 
recorded. 

Gladly would we believe that our Nation shall "learn 
war no more,"" and our community no more hear the call 
to arms. Nevertheless, an age-long battle goes on, the bat- 
tle between truth and error, between light and darkness. 
May our community never be lacking in brave men and 
women to carry on the bloodless struggle for good govern- 
ment, civic righteousness, universal justice and a world- 
wide recognition of the brotherhood of man ; and may our 
experience ever be such as to confirm and illustrate the 
noble words of Milton : 

"Peace hath her victories 

No less renown"d than war." 



CHAPTER VII. 

CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. 

Connellsville had been a Borough for ten years when- 
some of the most enterprising of its citizens began to real- 
ize the advantages that a bank would bring to the commun- 
ity and what a power such an institution would l)e in build- 
ing up its varied industries. But the directing spirits of 
the government. State and Federal at this period, favored 
a monopoly of the banking business of the country by a 
very few large institutions — a charter could not therefore 
be gotten from the State of Pennsylvania for a bank. 

A group of monied men in the city of New York 
had experienced the same difficulty a few years previously,, 
when they came to apply for a charter for what is now 
the second oldest banking institution in that city. 

The promoters of the Connellsville enterprise profited 
by the experience of their New York brothers — which goes 
to show, by the way, that they were not so far out of touch 
with the Metropolis even though they were, at the time, on; 
the edge of civilization. 

The story of the New York institution, iM-iefly told, is 
as follows. The old bank of New York had long enjoyed 
a monopoly of the business in that city. It strenuously 
opposed the granting of another charter, and Alexander 
Hamilton, at that time secretary of the United States 
treasury, used every power and influence of his official posi- 
tion against its being granted. Hamilton was one of the 
founders of the old bank and very strong politically at the 
time. His influence had to be overcome. 

The services of Aaron Burr were secured by the peti- 
tioners for the charter, and by strategy he accomplished 
the desired end — even securins^ the endorsement of Ham- 



220 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

ilton — although it is doubtful if he, Hamilton, knew that 
he was helping to create a rival to his pet bank at the 
time. 

Xew York had long suffered a scarcity of pure water 
— the yellow fever scare of 1798 had increased the demand 
of her citizens for an adequate supply. The would-be 
bankers organized the Manhattan Company for the pur- 
pose of supplying an abundance of pure water to the City 
of New York. 

There were many influential men, however, who 
thought the water supply should be owned and controlled 
by the municipality, and accordingly opposed the granting 
of the charter to a private corporation. 

By some means, Hamilton was induced to write the 
'"Honorable Council" from Washington, strongly opposing 
the idea of a municipal water plant. The letter is a long 
one and somewhat amusing in the light of subsequent 
events — at any rate it killed the municipal plant and cleared 
the way for the granting of the charter of the Manhattan 
Company which was soon obtained. 

Besides the authority to acquire lands, build dams, 
tunnels, canals and pipe conduits for the purpose of supply- 
ing water to the city, the charter contained the following 
paragraph, briefl}^ stated: 

"And * * * it shall and may be lawful for the 
said company to employ all such surplus capital as may 
belong or accrue to it in the purchase of public or other 
stocks, or in any other monied transactions or operations, 
not inconsistent with the Constitution of the State of New 
York or of the United States for the sole benefit of said 
company." 

This gave a broad charter to the new Company, and 
it was not long in getting the "surplus capital" to work. 

Some years later it developed that of the $2,000,000.00 
•capital $172,261.19 had been devoted to supplying New 
York with water, leaving the very creditable "surplus" of 
$1,827,738.81 to be used in "monied transactions" thus 
founding a great bank. 



CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 221 

Concealed in the walls of the bank of the Manhat- 
tan Company's building is a small engine which to this 
day pumps a slender stream of water into a little wooden 
tank, and thus arc all the purposes of the Company's 
broad charter fulfilled. 

October 8, 181 (J, — a limited partnership, styled the 
"Connellsville Navigation Company" was organized, osten- 
sibly for the purpose of improving the navigation of the 
Youghioghenv River, but really for the purpose of engag- 
ing in the business of banking. So far as we can learn, 
the company attempted nothing in the way of its avowed 
purpose and proceeded immediately after its organization 
to do a banking business, thus becoming the first banking 
institution of Connellsville. 

The Articles of Association set forth, in part, as fol- 
lows : 

"We, the subscribers, believing that an association for 
the purpose of raising a fund to aid in the improvement 
of the Youghiogheny River, and in erecting a bridge across 
said river, is a measure of public utility, and will especially 
advance the interests of this section of the Commonwealth. 
have formed a company or limited partnership, and do 
hereby associate and agree with each other to conduct busi- 
ness in the manner hereinafter specified and described by 
and under the name and title of the president and directors 
of the Connellsville Navigation Compan}^, and we do hereby 
mutually covenant, declare and agree that the following 
are and shall be the fundamental articles of this our asso- 
ciation and agreement with each other, by which we and 
all persons who at au}- time may transact business with the 
said companv shall be bound and concluded." 

The capital stock of the Company (Article 1) was fixed 
at one hundred thousand dollars in money of the United 
States, "but may be increased hereafter at the discretion 
of the directors to an}- amount not exceeding $300,000.' 
The par value of the shares was $100 each. 

Under Article 2, the following named persons were 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



constituted a board of directors to hold such office until the 
first Monday in April, 1817, viz: Isaac Meason, Jr., Sam- 
uel Trevor, Daniel Rogers, Joseph Torrence, James Black- 
stone, John Strickler, Abram Baldwin, Daniel S. Norton, 
Jacob Stewart, Andrew Dempsey, John Lamb, Jacob 
Weaver, Stewart H. Whitehill, James Rogers and James 
PauU, Jr. 

The life of the company was fixed in a later article, 
which declares, "the association shall continue until the first 
day of April, 1825." The names of the subscribers and the 
number of shares subscribed by each are as follows : 



Names. Sha 


res. 


Names. 


Shares. 


Abram Baldwin 


30 


Jacob Davis 


5 


Samuel Trevor 


30 


James Paull, Jr. 


50 


James Rogers 


20 


Jonathan Page 


5 


Isaac Meason, Jr. 


50 


Jacob Warsing 


5 


D. & I. Rogers 


50 


E. Sallyards 


10 


John Lamb 


20 


Joseph Strickler 


5 


Andrew Dempsey 


10 


Abraham Stouffer 


10 


Jacob Weaver 


20 


Nathaniel Gibson 


20 


Stewart H. Whitehill 


30 


S. Stauffer 


5 


Jacob Stewart 


20 


Andrew Byers 


5 


William Lytle 


5 


James McMillan 


5 


James Blackstone 


50 


William Davis 


2 


James Francis 


4 


John M. Burdett 


5 


John Boyd 


5 


Caspar King 


4 


Joseph Torrence 


10 


Henry Etling 


3 


James McKoun 


3 


Robert Huey 


1 


John Stauflrer 


20 


Geo. Mathiot 


3 


Samuel G. Wirts 


20 


Cyrus I. Gibson 


5 


George Kemp 


2 


George Ream 


5 


Daniel Barnes 


20 


John Hinebaugh 


5 


Elijah Crossland 


5 


Robert Smith 


10 


Samuel S. Neale 


2 


John Strickler 


10 


George Oldshoe 


2 


Moses Vance 


10 


Michael Gilmore 


4 


Thomas Atkinson 


5 


Phineas Rogers 


20 


Samuel Weel 


15 



CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 



Names. Shares. 


Names. 


Shares. 


Philo Hall 


5 


Robert Philson 


10 


Thos. & Joseph Gibson 


10 


John Rogers 


30 


William Moreland 


-3 


Thomas Perkins 


20 


John Miner 


1 


Christian Stanffer 


5 


Robert Boyd 


5 


Mahlon Rogers 


5 


Joseph Culbertson 


2 


Mark Stackhouse 


5 


Wm. Kepner 


30 


George Evans 


5 


James C. Seaton 


34 


Luther Stephens 


b 


Henry Hartzol 


30 


John B. Trevor 


20 


Isaac Gilmer 


5 


Moses Mercer 


3 


Peter Xewmyer 


10 


Ben. Kindrick 


40 


Jacob Xewmyer 


5 


George Mathiott 


fe 


James Shean 


5 


Wm. B. Foster 


15 


Isaac Clears 


6 


John Fautlinger 


20 


Martin Stephenson 


5 


John Jackson 


50 


John Shaup 


1 


Robert Hutchinson 


2 


Samuel G. Wurts 


30 


]\Iartin Glassburner 


1 


Jacob Coslimon 


o 



Samuel Candan 


3 


Christian Stauft'er 


10 


William Patterson 


5 


John Tinstman 


10 


James Hertzell 


20 


Thos. Bigham 


10 


Philip Sullivan 


20 


Matthew Gaut 


5 


William Paull 


20 


Dr. L. Hendrickson 


5 


John Aliner 


10 



A meeting of the board of directors was held Novem- 
ber 3rd, 181G, at the house of Andrew Byers. After the 
transaction of some unimportant business the board ad- 
journed. 

According to adjournment, the meeting was held on 
Thursday. December 5th. ISKi. at Andrew layers' as be- 
fore, wdth Colonel Joseph Torrence in the chair, and Stew- 
art H. Whitehill as secretary. The board organized by 
electing Isaac Meason, Jr., president and John B. Trevor, 
cashier of the Company. Its first office was located in 
the storeroom of Samuel Trevor (just opposite the pres- 
ent Yough House), which was rented at one hundred 
and fiftv dollars a vear. Afterwards it was moved further 



224 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OE CONNELLSVILLE 

up the street to a building which was located on the rear 
of the lot now occupied by the Title & Trust Company of 
Western Pennsylvania, which was known at the time of 
its demolition as the Dr. George Johnson house. 

On the 21st of January, 1817, the company issued its 
notes to the amount of $24,400.00 in bills of the denomina- 
tion of $10.00. $5.00, $3.00 and $1.00. The business then 
seems to have gotten under way in earnest, for other issues 
were made as follows : February Tth, $800.00 ; February 
10th, $800.00; March 5th, $8,100.00; April 1st, $12,500.00; 
making a total issue of $46,000.00 outstanding. 

From the following entry in the books of the com- 
pany it would appear that $36,197.00 of this issue was re- 
tired on November 21st, 1818: 

■'Office of the Connellsville Navigation Company, 

November 21, 1818. 

"We, the undersigned, appointed a committee to ex- 
amine the affairs of the Connellsville Navigation Company, 
to count the money, and ascertain the balance in the hands 
of the cashier, do find that the balance of the cash account 
is thirty-seven thousand three hundred and four dollars 
and fifty cents, which amount J. B. Trevor has this day 
paid over to the committee, consisting of thirty-six thou- 
sand one hundred and ninety-seven dollars in our own 
notes, and eleven hundred and seven dollars and fifty 
cents in foreign notes. $37,304.50. 

"We have counted our own notes and sealed them up. 

Tens $ 8,700.00 

Fives 11,970.00 

Threes 12,534.00 

Ones 2,993.00 

$36,197.00 
Foreign 1,107.50 

$37,304.50 
JOHN LAMB, 
ANDREW DEMPSEY, 
DANIEL ROGERS." 



CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 



At a meeting of the board of directors, held on the 
same day, it was voted "that Caleb Trevor, Jr., act as 
cashier until April 1st next, at the rate of $-100.00 per year, 
and he to furnish room for books and desk after January 
1st." Caleb Trevor, Jr., was succeeded in the cashiership 
by John Boyd, and the following entry is made in the rec- 
ords on April 19th. 1819: 

"Received of Caleb Trevor, Jr., late cashier of the Con- 
nellsville Navigation Company, the books and papers of the 
Company, and $()-10.50 in bank notes, as per margin, being 
the balance of the cash account. 

Perrvopolis $117.50 

Saline (Va.) 121.00 

Stewart's . 111.00 

New Salem 286.00 

New Ohio 5.00 

Total $(U0.50 

JOHN BOYD, Cashier." 

A new board of fifteen directors was elected, August 
18, 1820, of which Isaac jNIeason was president. John Boyd 
was re-elected cashier and continued in that capacity dur- 
ing the life of the Company. 

After the retirement of the Company's notes before 
mentioned, November, 1818, there still remained in circu- 
lation $10,403.00. Of these $8,891.00 were redeemed and 
cancelled at various times until P'ebruary 15, 1831, leaving 
$1,512.00 not presented for redemption. The business of 
this Company had practically ceased October 5. 1830, after 
an existence of fourteen years. There are a few unimport- 
ant entries in the books however up to August 27, 1831. 

THE BANKING HOUSE OF JOHN T. HOGG. 

From 1831 Connellsville seems to have been without 
banking facilities until 1854, when "The Banking House 
of John T. Hogg" was established. 

This w'as a private bank with wide connections. The 



Banking 'Houses 
JOHN f- HOG€ 

hew Ynrk, 

!!^^S Hiiril St., PhiUiiIdphin, ] 

!<^niri:1t, ■/Mlcci'hcny Co.^ j 

•1*'^"-"* . Some! set t-o., | 

iiiit '-n'lf, Wesli«orelati ! Co, S 

•mv]' * mU , Fujette Co., 



r.>, 



jT, 



!- r 



.., • . ' -1' . ■ Tti Bank Not(>> .'. !■ ^' . 

'■*■} u ^. \.-*r- and other S ■■'• ^-r-.^ = .■ 

v'^<" ' < :t:ui ^' ■> ilectio»ii> •- , '-.fl. 

\IK MNi' .V UUmT I'AINT t^ uii 
^ MAN' rA(mti^> ' 






ADVERTISEMENT OF THE BANKING HOUSE OF JOHN T. HOGG 



CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 22? 

head office was located in New York, and there were 
branches in Philadelphia, Somerset, Mt. Pleasant, Union- 
town, Brownsville and New Brighton, Pennsylvania , be- 
sides the one at Connellsville. 

Mr. Crawford Vance had charge of the Connellsville 
bank, which was located, at first, in a room on Main street 
where the Yough National bank now stands. Later it was 
moved to a room about the present location of the Yough 
House office. 

The State authorities permitted Mr. Hogg to issue 
"scrip," which he did under the title above given. This 
was quite a privilege and was considered a great compli- 
ment to his integrity. 

The bank went out of existence in Connellsville in 
1857. The whole chain was discontinued on account of 
the defalcation of the cashier of the Philadelphia office. 

The safe of the Connellsville branch is said to have been 
one of a very peculiar construction and was brought from 
the East, over the mountains at cjuite an expense. It was 
unlocked by a tube device, which pulled out from the face 
of the door and was worked in and out by some arrange- 
ment, known only to the operator, to undo the combination 
lock. 

This safe was sent to Pittsburgh after the banking house 
was discontinued in Connellsville, and Mr. Crawford Vance, 
at one time, had to go down there to unlock it, as those in 
charge had become confused on the working of the com- 
bination. 

The Democratic Sentinel and The Connellsville Enter- 
prise of 1855 and 1856 contain an advertisement of this 
banking house, that is reproduced on the following page. 

GEORGE A. TORRENCE AND COMPANY. 

From the closing of the Banking House of John T. 
Hogg until 1867, Connellsville had been dependent upon 
Uniontown, Brownsville and Pittsburgh for its banking 
facilities-— chieflv Brownsville. 



228 CENTENNIAL EIISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

The leading merchants of the town (the onl}' persons 
who had safes) became the custodians and depositaries of 
valuable papers, jewelry and money, for such of the citi- 
zens as did not care to keep those things at home, and to 
whom it was not convenient to go out of town for such serv- 
ices. Indeed, some of the merchants became bankers in 
fact, for they took money from some of their customers 
on deposit giving a memorandum for it (not a note) and 
bought and sold, notes, judgments, mortgages, etc., as any 
banker might. On some of the money so deposited a low 
rate of interest was allowed, but in most cases it was forced 
on them for safekeeping — the customer being willing to 
forego the interest return, in exchange for the greater se- 
curity of his savings, offered by the merchant's safe. 

George A. Torrence was familiar with the above con- 
ditions and knew something of the needs of the town and 
surrounding community; November 8th, 18()T, with A. E. 
Claney as cashier, he opened a private bank. This house 
was continued under his own name until January, 1871, 
when Joseph Johnston, retiring from the firm of Frisbee, 
Johnston and Compan}', became a partner and the firm 
name was changed to George A. Torrence and Company, 
Bankers. 

The bank was located in the Johnston house on West 
Main street, a brick building which stood a little west of 
the center of what is now the Frisbee Block. 

The house prospered and was quite a factor in the 
financial and commercial life of Connellsville and vicinity 
until 1873, when the failure of Jay Cooke and Company 
(the New York and Philadelphia correspondents of the 
firm) precipitated a panic throughout the country, and 
forced this house (and many others in all parts of the 
United States) to ask for an extension, which was granted. 

Money, however, continued close, uneasiness and dis- 
trust prevailed throughout the financial and business world, 
and finally the bank was compelled to close in 1875. 

The house of George A. Torrence and Company was 



CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 229 

an important factor in the extension of the Baltimore & 
Ohio railroad from Connellsville to Cumberland and aided 
in quite a measure the building" of the South West Pennsyl- 
vania railroad from Greensburg to Connellsville and Union- 
town. The promotion of these enterprises has been of un- 
told benefit and immeasureable value to the commercial life 
of Connellsville. 

THE YOUGH NATIONAL BANK OF 
CONNELLSVILLE. 

The oldest existing banking institution in Connellsville 
is the Yough National Bank which commenced business 
under the title of The Youghiogheny Bank, with a paid up 
capital of $25,000.00. It was chartered by the State of 
Pennsylvania, May 9th, 1871. The first officers were 
elected July 29th, 1871. M. O. Tinstman was president; 
A. C. Knox, cashier ; the directors besides the president 
were Daniel Kaine, Josiah Kurtz, James Allen, J. M. Du- 
Shane and Isaac W. Rutter. September J:th, 1871, was the 
first discount day of the bank. 

The banking office was at first located in the Snyder 
Building (now Central Hotel) on Water street. From 
there it was removed, in November, 1874, to the room now 
occupied by the post office in the Hurley Block, West Main 
street. In the spring of 1888 it moved into its present quar- 
ters in the Soisson Building on the North Side of West 
Main street, which had been fitted up and equipped in 
what was considered a very elaborate and complete style, 
including among its fixtures a Corliss safe and vault. 

Upon the death of M. O. Tinstman, February 15, 
1873, J. M. DuShane succeeded as president, and continued 
in that office until January 8th, 1880, when he retired and 
was succeeded by John Newcomer, who held the office tmtil 
1893 when the bank was converted into the Yough National 
Bank. Mr. Newcomer was desirous of being relieved of 
his duties as president on account of his advanced years. 



;S30 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

and Joseph Soisson, who is now president of the bank, was 
chosen to succeed him, and has held the office ever since. 
Mr. Newcomer was continued as a director until his death 
in 1902. 

A meeting of the stockholders was held June 27th, 
1872, for the purpose of voting on an increase in the cap- 
ital stock by the sale of five hundred (500) additional 
shares (par value $50.00 each), which was agreed upon, 
and the new stock was sold at a premium of five dollars per 
share. 

The board of directors elected January 8th, 1880, con- 
sisted of James Allen, John Newcomer, Daniel Kaine, Jo- 
seph Soisson, J. M. DuShane, Joseph T. McCormick and 
Joseph R. Staufifer. 

At a meeting of the stockholders held January 19th, 
1893, it was decided to convert the Youghiogheny Bank to 
the Yough National Bank of Connellsville with a capital 
of $75,000.00. 

A new board was elected on February 6th, 1893, and 
was composed of the following persons : John Newcomer, 
Joseph Soisson, Joseph R. Stauffer, B. F. Boyts, P. S. New- 
myer, Joseph T. McCormick and James Allen. At this 
meeting, besides electing Mr. Soisson president, B. F. 
Boyts, who had been a director of the bank since 1891, was 
elected vice president. 

The National Bank began business February 23, 1893, 
and had forty shareholders. 

After a service of fifteen years A. C. Knox resigned 
as cashier on February IGth, 1886, to become cashier of 
the Fifth National Bank of Pittsburg, and was succeeded 
by J. C. Kurtz, who had entered the employ of the bank 
in September, 1878, as a clerk. Mr. Kurtz served until 
1898, when he resigned on account of ill-health. 

John A. Armstrong was elected assistant cashier in 
1886, and remained with the bank until April 20th, 1887.' 
Lin F. Ruth was chosen teller on the resignation of Mr. 
Armstrong and was advanced to the position of assistant 




THE VOUCH NATIONAL BANK 



23Z CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

cashier shortly thereafter, in which position lie continued 
to serve until 1896. 

In July 1890, Joseph R. Paull, now vice president of 
the bank of Pittsburg National Association, entered the 
employ of the bank as bookkeeper, and continued for sev- 
eral years in that capacity. 

George T. Griffin was elected bookkeeper in March, 
1891, and was advanced to teller, then assistant cashier and 
upon the resignation of J. C. Kurtz in 1898, was elected 
cashier. Mr. Griffin resigned April 1, 1906, on account of 
physical disability and was succeeded by Eugene R. Floto, 
of Meyersdale, Pa., formerly assistant cashier of the Citi- 
zens National Bank of that place. 

The present board of directors (August, 1906), con- 
sists of Joseph Soisson who was elected in 1876, Joseph 
R. Staufifer, who was elected in 1880 ; B. F. Boyts, who was 
elected in 1890 ; W. F. Soisson, who was elected in 1902 ; 
Robert Felty, who was elected in 1904 ; H. M. Kephart, 
who was elected in 1904 ; Andrew Haas, who was elected 
in 1904; S. J. Harry, who was elected in 1905; M. B. 
Shupe, who was elected in 1905. 

The officers and employes at this time are : Joseph 
Soisson, president, elected in 1893 ; B. F. Boyts, vice pres- 
ident, elected in 1893 ; E. R. Floto, cashier, elected in 1906 ; 
J. S. McKee, assistant cashier, elected in 1903 ; Jas B. 
Stader, teller, 1901 ; Conrad Gutbrod, bookkeeper, elected 
in 1905 ; Miss Ruth Artman, stenographer, elected in 1906. 
The Yough has turned out ciuite a number of men who 
are now occupying prominent positions in the financial 
world ; among them might be mentioned the following : 
A. C. Knox, vice president ^Mellon National Bank, Pitts- 
burg, Pa. ; Joseph R. Paull, vice president Bank of Pitts- 
burg National Association ; Lin F. Ruth, president Title & 
Trust Company of Western Pennsylvania and president, 
Colonial National Bank, both of Connellsville ; J. A. Arm- 
strong, cashier Second National Bank of Connellsville ; J. 
L. Kurtz, cashier Citizens National Bank of Connellsville ; 



CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 



Charles S. Hall, cashier Broadway National Bank of Scott- 
dale, Pa. 

Of the original stockholders who still hold stock in 
the bank or whose shares are still held by their estates are 
the following: J. M. DuShane, J. T. McCormick, John H. 
McClelland, Joseph Soisson, John Newcomer, John D. 
Frisbee, Mary Allen and Samuel Porter. 

James Allen, a member of the first board of directors 
served continuously until his death a short time ago. 

Since its organization the bank has paid sixty-six {6()) 
dividends ranging from three per cent to six per cent semi- 
annually. The first dividend, amounting to three per cent 
was declared December 2Tth, 1871, payable January 1st, 
1872, out of the earnings of the first four months. Since 
that time it has missed only four dividends at the regular 
periods of January and July. 

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF 
CONNELLSVILLE. 

The First National Bank of Connellsville was organ- 
ized on the 15th day of March, 1876, with a capital stock 
of $50,000.00, divided into 500 shares of $100 each. The 
stockholders elected from their number the following di- 
rectors to serve until the annual meeting in January, 1877 : 
John D. Frisbee, John M. Cochran, P. S. Newmyer, J. T. 
McCormick, Wm. A. Davidson, J. R. Laughrey, John K. 
Brown, Nathaniel Ewing, Joseph R. Staufifer, Edward Dean 
and Dr. J. J. Singer. The board organized the same day 
by choosing John D. Frisbee, president, and P. S. New- 
myer, vice president. 

On March 20th the room "occupied by A. B. Morton's 
jewelrv store" was rented for a term of years at $-100.00 
per annum. 

J. S. McCaleb was elected cashier on March 28th and 
on April 8th Joseph M. Kurtz was chosen teller. 



234 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

The bank began business on Monday, April 17th, 1876, 
in the counting room of Frisbee, Cooper and Company. 

It was decided to buy bonds sufficient to take out the 
entire amount of circulation authorized by the National 
Bank Act, at a meeting held May 27th, 1876, and this seems 
to have been the first meeting in the bank's own office. 

The directors, by resolution dated June 24th, 1876, 
decided to pay interest on time certificates of deposit at a 
rate not to exceed three (3) per centum per annum. 

The first examining committee was appointed July 29th, 
1876, and consisted of Messrs. McCormick, StaufTer, Laugh- 
rey and Ewing, who performed that duty on August 17th, 
1876. 

Josiah Kurtz was appointed a director on September 
2, 1876, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of John 
K. Brown. 

On October 31, 1876, a report of the earnings showed 
the bank to have earned $2,120.50 after deducting all ex- 
penses, losses, etc. A dividend of three per cent was de- 
clared on the capital stock and the balance placed to sur- 
plus and profits account. Dividends have been made regu- 
larh' since that time at the semi-annual periods, May 1st 
and November 1st, in each year, with the exception of 
three times. May and November, 1878, and May, 1879, 
when the profits were applied to wiping out the premium 
paid on United States bonds held to secure circulating notes. 
In November, 1880, the dividend rate was raised to four 
per cent, semi-annually, and in May, 1888, to five per cent, 
semi-annually, in November of the same year it was in- 
creased to six per cent semi-annually, and has been con- 
tinued at that rate ever since. The surplus fund had 
grown meanwhile to $50,000.00 with undivided profits of 
$9,300.00. 

At the annual meeting of shareholders in January, 
1881, the number of directors was reduced to eight. 

Upon the retirement of P. S. Newmyer, who resigned 
in January, 1882, J. T. McCormick was elected vice presi- 




THE OI^D FIRST NATIONAI, BANK AND THE OLD SYCAMORE 



1io(J CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

dent and continued in that office until succeeded by Joseph 
R. Stauffer, the present incumbent, in January, 1891, Mr. 
McCormick having" taken the presidency of the Second Na- 
tional Bank. 

William VVeihe was elected a director, July 15, 1881. 
At the same meeting the cashier reported the purchase of 
$50,000.00 United States 3^ per cent bonds (known as 
extended 6's of 1881) at 103;^. An additional clerk in the 
person of John M. Stauffer was employed October 29th, 
1881, "owing to the increased business of the bank." He 
resigned in May, 1882, to take the cashiership of the Scott- 
dale Bank, and was succeeded by Eugene T. Norton on 
May 31st, 1882. 

March 30. 1882, it was voted to "deposit the 3^ per 
cent bonds, purchased some months previously, as security 
for circulation and sell the four and one-half and four 
per cent bonds now in the hands of the treasurer of the 
United States." This was accomplished in due time with a 
nice profit to the bank. The 3^4 per cent bonds were 
called for payment and on October 3rd, 1882, at a special 
meeting, the board reduced the circulation to $11,250.00 
and authorized the purchase of $12,500.00 United States 
Registered 4:'s of 1907. 

On December 30th, 1882, the cashier was authorized 
to look for a suitable lot as a site for a building for the 
bank. A number of locations were considered and negotia- 
tions entered into for the same, but the purpose was not 
accomplished until twelve years later when the Goldsmith 
property on West Main street was purchased for $23,000.00. 

J. M. Kurtz was made assistant cashier on April 25, 
1885, and upon the resignation of J. S. McCaleb to go into 
the Foreign Exchange and Steamship business, became 
cashier on February 1, 1887. E. T. Norton at the same 
time was made assistant cashier, and George W. Stauffer, 
clerk. 

The business had grown too large for the cjuarters in 
the Morton Building, so November 1, 1888, a committee 



CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 237' 

appointed for the purpose reported that the western room 
in the Goldsmith building had been rented for a period of 
ten years at $165.00 per year. The building in which this 
room was located was ijurchased by the bank, as mentioned- 
above, from Henry Goldsmith, on September 4th, 189-t. 
With the building was included a vacant lot, on the nortk 
west corner of which stood a very large sycamore tree, 
one of the landmarks of the town and for vears a favorite 
meeting place, on warm summer days, for the old men of 
the village, who would sit, usually on store boxes, beneath 
its shade and whittle and argue to their heart's content. 

The first meeting of the board in their new quarters 
was held May 1, 1889. 

On July 20th, 1889, George W. Stauffer was made 
teller and the directors resolved at the same meeting that 
the by-laws be amended at the next annual meeting, with 
a view to reducing the number of directors to seven, which 
was done January 14, 1890. H. C. Norton was employed 
November 17, 1889, as a clerk. 

The bank had since its organization been open from 
9:00 o'clock A. M. to 4:00 P. :\I., on January 13, 1891, 
it was decided to close at 3 :00 o'clock P. AL, after March 
1st, in order to give the employees more time in which to 
make their daily settlement. 

H. C. Huston was elected a director on January 29th, 
1892, to succeed John Sterrett, who died the early part 
of that month. 

The capital stock was increased January 3, 1893, to 
$75,000.00 and a dividend of 50 per cent on the existing 
capital declared payable on demand. 

The tenth day of the same month J. S. McCaleb, Lloyd 
Johnston and John Barge were elected as new members of 
the board, Mr. Weihe retiring. Robert Norris succeeded 
Lloyd Johnston, April 21, 1894, Wm. Weihe having taken 
J. S. McCaleb's place in January. 

The articles of association were amended at a meeting- 
of the stockholders, Januarv 14, 1896, extending the cor- 



238 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

porate existence of the bank until March 25, 1916, which 
was duly approved by the Comptroller of the Currency. 

At the annual meeting, January 11, 1898, L. F. Ruth 
was elected a director to succeed Hon. Nathaniel Ewing. 

Since the organization of the bank the officers and 
employees had given bonds, secured by individuals, as 
surety to the bank, for the faithful performance of their 
duties. On April 30th, 1898, it was resolved, that hence- 
forth all of the officers and clerks be bonded in some good 
surety company — the bank to pay the premium on said 
bonds. 

J. M. Kurtz was elected a director and second vice- 
president on January 9th, 1900, and at the same meeting 
E. T. Norton was made cashier, George W. Stauffer. assist- 
ant cashier, and H. C. Norton, teller. 

The circulating notes of the bank were increased by 
resolution March 15, 1900 to $75,000.00, the directors hav- 
ing authorized the subscription to that amount of the Span- 
ish War loan of 1898 — said bonds being used to secure the 
circulation and the fours of 1907, sold. 

The directors, for some time, had been discussing 
the question of improving the property of the bank with a 
modern, up-to-date bank and office builcHng, and finally on 
May 19, 1900, Mowbray and Uffinger, architects of New 
York were employed to prepare plans, the intention being 
xo erect a bank, office and theater building four stories 
high. Some of the board were not favorable to the pro- 
ject, as to part of the building being used for a theater, 
so the architect was asked to make plans for a six-story 
bank, office and store building, which plans were presented 
and approved, and bids were received thereon, April 4, 
1901. Work was commenced May 1, 1901, and the new 
building was formally occupied by the bank February, 1903. 

The building is in the style of the French Renaissance, 
six stories high and constructed of polished pink Milford 
granite, white marble and red pressed brick. An elaborate, 
massive cornice of copper surmounts the front and sides of 




THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK 



240 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

the building", while handsomely wrought copper panels are 
used in the front arches. The bank occupies 25x120 feet 
on the corner of the iirst iioor, while the remainder of the 
same floor is occupied by the office entrance and the Wright- 
Metzler department store. The banking room is finished 
in San Domingo mahogany with Pavanazzi marble, wains- 
coting and counters — a cast bronze screen, surmounting 
the latter. The vault contains two hundred and fifty safe 
deposit boxes and weighs 100,000 pounds, being built of 
chrome steel three inches thick. The outside door is five 
inches thick and weighs 10,000 pounds, the inside door is 
three inches thick and weighs three tons. The upper floors 
of the building are divided into offices, and these are served 
by two electric elevators — one in front and one at the side 
entrance on Meadow lane. 

August 9, 1902, E. T. Norton was chosen as a director 
to succeed J. M. Kurtz, deceased. John Barge died No- 
vember 10, 1902, and was succeeded by J. L. Kendall. H. 
C. Huston died February 19, 1903. and E. C. Higbee was 
elected to succeed him at a regular meeting of the board 
held April 18, in that year. 

In June, 1903, a foreign department was opened by 
the bank to buy and sell foreign drafts, bills, etc., and for 
the sale of steamship tickets. Mr. Anton Ruskovic was 
elected manager of this department by the board. The 
business soon made such progress that for the convenience 
of its patrons a room was fitted up in the basement in 
March, 1904. 

An addition to the rear of the building was made in 
the summer of 1906 — one story being added over Wright- 
A-Ietzler Company's store for their use. 

In going over the minute book it is noticeable that very 
few regular meetings of the board have failed of having a 
quorum present, and most generally a full board. Where 
a regular meeting has been unavoidably missed there has 
always been a special meeting to make up for it. 

The examining committee as appointed from vear to 



CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 241 



year has never failed of accomplishing- its duties — formerly 
twice a year, but for some six years past, four times yearly. 
These examinations, as shown by the reports filed, have 
been painstaking and thorough and have been the subject 
of favorable comment by the representatives of the depart- 
ment of the Comptroller of the Currency. 

Two of the present directors, Messrs. Frisbee and 
Staufter, were members of the original board, and John 
D. Frisbee has been re-elected president of the bank every 
year since its organization. 

The following named persons have served on the board 
of the First National Bank, besides those already mentioned, 
for the periods given below: John H. McClelland, from 
January, 1877 to I\Iarch, 1885 ; Dr. G. W. Newcomer, from 
January 1877 to January 1881; F. B. Hambry, from Jan- 
uary 1877 to January 1882 ; Lloyd Johnston, from January 
1877 to January 1881 ; John Sterrett. from Januarv 1883 
to January 1892 ; James Lewis, from Januarv 188(i to Octo- 
ber 1889. 

The present board consists of the following directors: 
John D. Frisbee, Joseph R. Stauffer, William Weihe, Robert 
Norris, E. T. Norton. J. L. Kendall and E. C. Fligbee. 

The officers and employees at this time are: John D. 
Frisbee, president; Joseph R. Staufifer, vice president; E. 
T. Norton, cashier; George W. Staufifer, assistant cashier; 
H. C. Norton, assistant cashier ; Fred Frisbee, teller ; Ella 
Sauter, teller's clerk ; Edward Sellers, bookkeeper ; William 
R. Bowden, bookkeeper ; Clififord Edmonds, exchange clerk ; 
Alice Sauter, stenographer; Anton Ruskovic, manager of 
the foreign department; W. A. Salomon, foreign "clerk ; 
John Ruskovic, foreign clerk; S. S. Clark, building super- 
intendent ; Antonio Caprio, janitor. 

THE SECOND NATIONAL BANK OF 
CONNELLSVILLE. 

On October 31st, 1890, the Second National Bank of 
Connellsville was organized with the following board of 



342 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

directors, viz : Joseph T. McCormick, John D. Frisbee, 
Joseph Soisson, Kell Long, Worth Kilpatrick, ElHs PhilUps, 
Joseph R. Stauffer, Charles Davidson and Joseph M. Kurtz. 
Joseph T. McCormick was chosen president, Worth Kil- 
patrick. vice president, and John A. Armstrong, cashier. 

The capital stock was fixed at $50,000.00 and a call 
for 50 per cent thereof was made. 

The first annual election of directors and officers was 
held in accordance with the by-laws on January 13th, 1891, 
when the same board of directors and officers as noted above 
were re-elected and Joseph R. Paull chosen teller. 

The bank opened for business on March 16th, 1891, in 
the room now occupied by the bank on the south west cor- 
ner of Main and Pittsburgh streets. 

In the early morning of Sunday, January 26th, 1896, 
a fire broke out in a store room next door, which burned 
through the rear of the building completely destroying the 
board room of the bank and damaging the counting room 
so badly that it had to be entirely re-furnished. It was 
Sunday noon before the fire had been sufficiently controlled 
to permit the room to be entered, yet by the untiring efforts 
of the bank's officials and employees the room was cleaned, 
fitted with temporary fixtures and opened for business Mon- 
day morning at the usual hour. 

On January 12, 1897, the stockholders amended the 
Articles of Association reducing the number of directors 
from nine to seven. The present officers are : Worth Kil- 
patrick, president; J. M. Reid, vice president; J. A. Arm- 
strong, cashier, Alex B. Hood, teller ; B. J. Thomas and 
Clyde Whitely. bookeepers. The board of directors at 
present, besides the president and Adce president, consists 
of the following: Charles Davidson, Kell Long, Cyrus 
Echard, R. S. Paine and Dr. L. P. McCormick. Of those 
who have served on the board since the organization of the 
bank, in addition to those originally elected and mentioned 
above, might be named the following with the dates on 
which thev were elected : 




THE SECOND NATIONAL BANK 



24:4: CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVTLLE 

On January 12, 1893, J. M. Reid and James Junk. 
January 9, 189-1:, Edmund Dunn and John F. Soisson. On 
January 11, 1898, R. S. Paine. Mr. Soisson died November 
21, 1899 and Dr. Ellis Phillips, who had previously served 
on the board and having returned to New Haven, Pa., after 
an absence of several years, was elected in his stead at a 
meeting December 12, 1899. Upon Dr. Phillips' moving 
away for the second time, Cyrus Echard was elected to 
take his place at the annual meeting held January 12, 1904. 

President Joseph T. McCormick died May 2, 1904, 
and on May 28, following. Worth Kilpatrick, the present 
incumbent was elected to that office. At the same meeting 
J. M. Reid was made vice president, which ofhce he still 
holds. 

Dr. Louis P. McCormick was elected to fill the va- 
cancy caused by the death of his father, J. T. McCormick. 
at a meeting held June 9. 1904. 

In March, 1902, the bank purchased from the heirs 
of J. D. Still wagon the property at the north west corner 
of Main and Pittsburgh streets with a view to erecting 
thereon a banking house. This property fronts 24 feet on 
Main street and 165 feet on Pittsburgh street and is con- 
sidered one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in 
Connellsville. The bank contemplates erecting thereon a 
handsome building at an early date. 

THE TITLE AND TRUST COMPANY OF WESTERN 
PENNSYLVANIA. 

Since the year 1900, there has been a remarkable in- 
crease in the number of trust companies throughout the 
country. This has been especially true in Pennsylvania, 
and has been the result in a large measure of a demand 
in certain lines of trade for banking institutions with larger 
powers and broader charters than those granted to national 
or state banks. In the various fiduciary capacities incident 
to modern business methods the trust company has marked 



CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 245 

advantages over the individual. The large issues of honds 
bv the increased number of corporations during the several 
vears past alone making a place for such institutions as 
trustees — the death of an individual acting in this capacity 
might work many vexatious annoyances, whereas the cor- 
poration goes on, regardless of the death of its ofificers, 
and the trusteeship continues in the same name. There 
are other places, too numerous to mention here, that can 
be tilled by the trust company to advantage, all growing 
out of present business methods. 

To meet this demand, nineteen of the representative 
business men of Connellsville met December 4, 1899, and 
organized the Title and Trust Company of Western Penn- 
sylvania. Fifteen of their number were elected to act as a 
board of directors, who met on the same da}', ap])ointed a 
committee on permanent site, issued a call for 10 per cent, 
of the capital stock to be paid in on December 11, IS!)!), and 
elected L. F. Ruth as president. On December 11, a meeting 
of the board was held in the office of William A. Davidson, 
Escp, at which time the resignations of five members of 
the board were received and accepted. These vacancies 
were quickly filled and plans for aggressive work adopted. 
Two days later the board authorized the purchase of the 
Wetherell and Dr. George Johnson properties, fronting 5? 
feet on North Pittsburg street and 99 feet on East Main 
street, regarded as one of the most desirable business sites 
in the city. 

On January S, 1900, the bank was opened for business 
in Old City Hall. It was the first savings bank of Connells- 
ville and indeed the first permanent savings institution of 
Fayette county, paying three per cent, interest on savings. 
Later the rate of interest was raised to four per cent. Dur- 
ing its short history the bank has paid $52,.")0().()O in divi- 
dends and about the same amount in interest to its de- 
positors. 

The company was regularly incorporated under the Act 
of Assembly of April 29, 1874, and its supplements. The 



246 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

charter was obtained January 11, 1900. Under the char- 
ter the capital stock was fixed at $250,000.00. The first 
board of directors, under the charter, was composed of L. 
F. Ruth. Rockwell Marietta, George J. Humbert, W. M. 
Ruth, Joseph Soisson, H. P. Snyder, S. R. Slaymaker, "W. 

A. Davidson, J. D. Madigan, A. D. Soisson, E. K. Dick, 

B. F. Keister, A. J. Cochran, Charles Donnelly and A. W. 
Mellon. 

By a vote of the shareholders, October 15, 1903, the 
capital stock was increased from the authorized capital of 
$250,000.00 to $500,000.00, one half of which or $250,000.00 
was paid in. The new issue of $125,000.00 was sold at a 
premium, which gave a paid in surplus of $125,000.00, 
making the total capital and surplus paid up of $375,000.00. 
On January 19, 1900, the contract for the erection of the 
new bank building was awarded to James Wherry and Com- 
pany of Pittsburgh, Pa. It is five stories high and built of 
buff Pompeian brick and native sand stone, after the style 
of the Italian renaissance. It is fireproof throughout. 
The banking room, which occupies the commanding cor- 
ner, is fitted up in mahogany, marble and bronze, and is 
admirably adapted to the business of the company. The 
entire plant, including furnishings, represents an outlay of 
$149,700.00. The new building was occupied May 1, 1901 ; 
and in the early part of June, an "open house" was held 
to inaugurate it. On April 10, 1900, W. M. Ruth, the 
first treasurer of the company resigned and Edward K. Dick 
was elected to fill his place. The officers elected at the last 
annual, meeting are: Lin F. Ruth, president; Rockwell 
Marietta, first vice president ; W. H. Hugus, second vice 
president; Edward K. Dick, secretary and treasurer; J. M. 
Gray, assistant secretary and treasurer ; Ray Mestrezat, 
teller; Byron Porter, bookkeeper and notary public; Miss 
Elizabeth Ankeny, stenographer. 

The present board of directors is composed of Lin F. 
Ruth, Rockwell Marietta, W. H. Hugus, Edward K. Dick, 
J. M. Gray, William Gibson, A. D. Soisson, W. H. Soisson, 




THE TITLE AND TRUST COMPANY'S BUILDING 



24:8 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVTLI.E 

A. J. Cochran, Charles Donnelly, A. W. Mellon, Robert 
Pitcairn, B. F. Keister, Clair Stillwagon, E. C. Higbee, 
Harry Dunn and J. W. McClaren. 

The company has given more attenntion to its bank- 
ing department than to its other lines of business, but the 
trust department has been steadily growing and the man- 
agement hope to make it one of the most important fea- 
tures of the institution. 

THE CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK. 

The Citizens National Bank was chartered in the sum- 
mer of 1902 and opened for business on the 13th of Octo- 
ber in that year in the Markell building, corner of North 
Pittsburgh and West Apple streets. 

Its capital stock, paid in, is $100,000.00, divided into 
1000 shares of $100 each, and is very widely distributed 
amongst the people of Connellsville and vicinity. A board 
of thirteen directors was elected at the outset, made up of 
the following stockholders: F. E. Markell, president; W. 
H. Brown, first vice president; John S. Detwiler, second 
vice president; B. F. Boyts, John D. Sherrick, T. J. Mit- 
chell, J. R. Laughrey, S. E. Frock, H. F. Atkinson, F. T. 
Adams, J. D. Jackson, H. M. Kerr and J. R. Davidson. 
Robert W. Soisson was elected cashier, and E. L. Sherrick, 
teller. Upon the death of John S. Detwiler, H. M. Kerr 
succeeded as second vice president. 

In January, 1906, the stockholders increased the board 
to 17 members as follows: J. D. Sherrick, S. J. Harry, 
Joseph Soisson, Charles Detwiler, I. C. Smutz, T. J. Mit- 
chell H. M. Kerr, S. E. Frock, J. R. Davidson, W. H. 
Brown, B. F. Boyts, F. E. Markell, H. F. Atkinson, F. A. 
Kail, G. W. Campbell, J. D. Madigan and Biddle Horn- 
beck. Of these F. E. Markell is president, W. H. Brown, 
first vice president; H. M. Kerr, second vice president. 
James L. Kurtz has been cashier since March 15, 1905, 
Edgar J. Smutz, teller ; J. D. Lambert, bookkeeper ; Pearl 
Fries, stenographer. 




THE CITIZENS NATIONAI, BANK 



250 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

The business of the bank has grown very rapidly and 
it now has total resources almost four times the amount 
shown in its first statement to the Comptroller of the Cur- 
rency. 

THE COLONIAL NATIONAL BANK. 

This, the youngest of the banks of Connellsville, was 
organized October 5th, 1904, with a capital stock of $100,- 
000.00 and a paid in surplus of $25,000.00. The charter 
was granted October 18th, 1904, and the bank opened for 
business November 1st, 1901. 

The officers and directors at the time of its incorpora- 
tion were: L. F. Ruth, president; Rockwell Marietta, first 
vice president; E. K. Dick, second vice president; Harry 
E. Schenck, cashier; R. W. Singer, assistant cashier; J. 
N. Ruth, teller. Besides the first three named above the 
board consisted of W. H. Hugus, Harry Dunn, Clair Still- 
wagon, A. D. Soisson, T. B. Palmer and J. C. Detwiler. 

During the erection of its own building at the corner 
of Main and Pittsburgh streets, the bank occupied tempor- 
ar}' quarters in the Masonic building. The new building 
was completed and the bank moved in on January loth,, 
1906. This is a beautiful building, monumental in design, 
and in Colonial style, erected of pure white marble, with 
pink Milford granite base ; the interior is beautifully fin- 
ished in mahogany and marble and decorated in fresco. 
It is equipped with all the modern conveniences for the 
transaction of its business. 

The present board of directors consists of : L. F. Ruth, 
Rockwell Marietta, E. K. Dick, Clair Stillwagon, T. B. 
Palmer, P. H. Beighley, Harry E. Schenck, J. C. Detwiler, 
W. H. Hugus, A. D. Soisson, Harry Dunn, and John Dug- 
gan. The officers are : L. F. Ruth, president ; Rockwell 
Marietta, first vice president ; E. K. Dick, second vice presi- 
dent ; J. N. Ruth, assistant cashier and teller ; Willet Hal- 
stead, clerk ; Miss Mary Ankeny, stenographer. 




THE COLONIAL NATIONAL BANK 



Zb2 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

THE NEW HAVEN NATIONAL BANK. 

With the continued growth of New Haven and the 
increase in the number of its manufacturing and business 
-.iiLerests, Connehsville became too far away for the con- 
venience of a number of its business men. These condi- 
tions brought about the organization of the New Haven 
National Bank, which took place August 9th, 1902. The 
capital was fixed at $50,000.00. The charter was granted 
September 4th, 1902, and on the same day the bank com- 
menced business, with the following officers and directors : 
Kell Long, president; L C. Smutz, vice president; James 
L. Kurtz, cashier ; directors, Kell Long, L C. Smutz, G. 
W. Ciallagher, James J. Barnhart, T. H. Hazen, P. J. Tor- 
may, B. O'Connor. 

The directors at once set to work to procure permanent 
quarters for the bank, and early in 19()o purchased the prop- 
erty at the south west corner of Main and Fourth streets, 
about 40 feet front by 120 feet deep, from S. F. Russell. 
A contract was let on March 2Tth, 1903, for the erection of 
a three-story bufl: brick building, the ground floor of which 
was designed for the bank and a store room, the two other 
floors being divided into dwelling apartments with all mod- 
•ern conveniences. The bank occupies the corner room 
and is very cosily arranged and fitted up. 

The building was completed and occupied by the bank 
on November 30th, 1903. On December 12th, a public re- 
ception was held bv the officers and directors, and the build- 
ing was formally opened. 

Edgar J. Smutz was elected bookeeper April 14th, 
1903. On March 1st, 1905, James C. Long was elected 
•cashier, succeeding James L. Kurtz, who had resigned to 
accept the cashiership of the Citizens National Bank of Con- 
nehsville. Charles S. Hall was elected bookkeeper, March 
lOtli, 1905, to succeed Edgar J. Smutz, who took a similar 
position in the Citizens National Bank of Connellsville. On 
October 5, 1906, John H. Work was chosen to succeed 



'^\ 




THE NEW HAVEN NATIONAL BANK 



254 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Charles S. Hall as bookkeeper. j\Ir. Hall having resigned 
to assume the duties of cashier of the Broadway National 
Bank, Scottdale, Pa. 

The board at present is constituted as follows : Kell 
Long. G. W. Galagher. P. J. Tormay, Lloyd Johnston, 
Henry Rhodes, T. H. Hazen and James J. Barnhart. The 
officers are : Kell Long, president ; G. W. Gallagher, vice 
president ; James C. Long, cashier ; John H. W^ork, book- 
keeper. 

THE FAYETTE SECURITIES COMPANY. 

Among the financial institutions of Connellsville there 
is one, little known, which occupies a rather unique posi- 
tion, in that it has a charter from the State of Pennsylvania 
constituting it a "holding company," so called, since the 
famous "Northern Securities" decision. 

The Fayette Securities Compan}- was chartered on the 
20th day of August, 1902. with an authorized capital of 
$50,000.00. The incorporators were John L. Cans, L. S. 
Hyatt and F. T. Evans. 

The purpose of the corporation as stated in the appli- 
cation for a charter is "purchasing, holding, selling, assign- 
ing, transferring, mortgaging, pledging or otherwise dis- 
posing of the shares of the capital stock of, or any bonds, 
securities or evidences of indebtedness created by any other 
corporation or corporations of this or any other State." 
The business of the corporation is to be transacted in the 
Borough of Connellsville. and it is to exist perpetuall}'. 

At a meeting held October 21, 1902, the following board 
of directors was elected: Robert L. Brownfield. John D. 
Frisbee. Kell Long, P. S. Newmyer, Philip Wilkey, R. L. 
Brownfield, Jr., and E. T. Norton. Of these R. L. Brown- 
field was chosen president, and E. T. Norton, treasurer. 
I. F. ^'^^ilkey was elected secretary by the board. 

At the annual meeting November 9th, 1903, W. H. 
Wilkey succeeded Philip Wilkey as one of the directors, 
and, upon the organization of the board. Mr. J. D. Frisbee 



CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 255 

was chosen president, Air. Brownfield having expressed a 
desire to be relieved of the duties of the position and hav- 
ing nominated Mr. Frisbee. 

The corporation at its last annual meeting, after an 
existence of four years, showed total resources of nearly 
$200,000.00. The business of the company has been strictly 
confined to investment securties — nothing of a speculative 
character being dealt in under any circumstances. Before 
many years this corporation will take an important place 
among the financial institutions of Connellsville and vicin- 
ity, not only on account of its large resources but because 
of the wide powers given it under its charter. Its office is 
in the First National Bank building. 

The officers and directors elected at the last annual 
meeting, held recently, are: John D. Frisbee. president; E. 
T. Norton, secretary and treasurer ; Kell Long, Wilmer H. 
Wilkey, P. S. Newmyer, Joseph R. Stauffer and Charles 
Davidson. 

CONNELLSVILLE AIUTUAL BUILDING AND LOAN 
ASSOCIATION. 

Tlie organizers of the first building and loan associa- 
tion started in Connellsville, petitioned the court of Fayette 
county at the December term, 1869, to grant "to them and 
to their associates the powers and immunities of a body 
corporate and politic in law," under the above title, and with 
an authorized capital of $100,000.00, divided into 1000 
shares of $100 each. 

The signers of the petition were as follows : P. Mc- 
Cormick, John D. Frisbee, Christian Snyder, H. E. Sad- 
ler, Thomas M. Fee, E. Dean, D. Welsh, J. M. Lytic, B. F. 
Baer, M. Goldsmith, J. Weibel, A. E. Claney, D. Blackburn, 
W. E. Francis and Joseph E. Forrey. 

The corporation was to have for its object "the grant- 
ing of loans to its members, and to assist them in their 
business and in acquiring homesteads." 



256 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

B}'^ order of the court, Alarch 11, 1870, the incorpora- 
tion was effected. 

A resolution was passed October 18th of that year au- 
thorizing the purchase from Dr. J. C. Cunimings of a tract 
of land north of the Borough containing 51 acres and agree- 
ing to donate a part of this tract (bounded by Mounts' 
Creek, the Youghiogheny River and the railway track) to 
the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad Company, on the 
condition that the said railroad company would agree to 
build their shops upon it. This the railroad company 
agreed to and the shops were built. The land was pur- 
chased by members of the board of directors, and trans- 
ferred to the association Xovember 9, 1871. The tract 
had previousl}' been laid out in building lots. It was de- 
cided to reserve the three blocks fronting the railroad, and 
offer for sale the remainder in alternate lots. Sales were 
made from time to time, and the business of the association 
was closed with the disposal of the few remaining lots, some 
time in 188";;. 

During its life the company made a number of loans 
for building and other purposes, but it never made more 
than the one real estate purchase and seems to have grad- 
ually closed its affairs so soon as that was disposed of. 

The last officers were: J. M. DuShane, president; P. 
S. Newmyer, vice president; John Kurtz, treasurer; H. P. 
Snyder, secretarv. The board of managers were : William 
Weihe, T. ^I. Fee, J. T. McCormick, B. Welker. William 
P. Clark, Stephen Rutherford, and John Rutherford. There 
■ were about lifty-five stockholders at the close.- 

PEOPLES' BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION. 

In compliance with an Act of the General Assembly of 
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, entitled "An Act to 
provide for the incorporation and regulation of certain 
corporations," approved the 2Gth day of April, A. D., 
187T, a number of citizens of Connellsville applied for let- 
ters patent for a corporation to be called "The Peoples' 
Buildino- and Loan Association of Connellsville." 



CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 



257 



The object of the corporation was declared to be "for 
the purpose of accumulating a fund by the periodical con- 
tributions of the members thereof, and of safely investing 
the same." 

The place of business was fixed at Connellsville, Fay- 
ette county, Pa. 

Article 4 of the application states, that "said corpora- 
tion is to exist perpetually." 

The names and residences of the original subscribers 
and the number of shares subscribed by each are as fol- 
lows : 

B. Porter 

Chas. H. Ways 

J. C. McClenathan 

Lin. F. Ruth 

J. R. Paull 

Lloyd Johnston 

J. S. McCaleb 

Henry P. Snyder 

Mrs. Byron Porter 

Miss Ella Kurtz 

Henry Goldsmith 

J. M. Cavender 

George W. McCartney 

Prov. Buttermore 

George B. Freed 

J. M^Reid 

Samuel Hefiiey 

J. C. Kurtz 

W. A. Hogg 

G. C. Armstrong 

R. S. Paine 

all residents of Connellsville, Pa. 

Article G fixed the number of directors at nine, and 
the names of those chosen for the first year follow: B. 
F. Boyts, H. P. Snyder, Henry Goldsmith, J. M. Reid, J. 



10 


B. F. Boyts 


10 


10 


K. C. McCormick 


5 


10 


J. C. Moore 


10 


5 


Mrs. D. Roberts 


10 


5 


E. T. Norton 


5 


5 


J. ^L Kurtz 


10 


10 


Crawford Stillwagon 


5 


10 


J. P. Cranston 


5 





W. Howard Thomas 


5 


5 


George R. Long 


10 


20 


John Conlon 


5 


5 


Jacob Morgan 


5 


5 


George W. Morgan 


5 


5 


Leighton W. Jones 


5 


5 


M. B. Walker' 


5 


10 


John DeTemple 


G 


10 


Chas. Fee 


3 


5 


A. B. O'Neil 


5 


5 


H. P. Berryhill 


5 


5 


S. Buttermore 


10 


10 


John L. Gans 


5 



258 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

M. Kurtz, George W. McCartney, J. C. McClenathan, 
Lloyd Johnston and J. M. Ca vender. 

The names of the first five directors above given were 
signed to the application for a charter which was dated 
September 9, 1890. 

The capital stock was fixed at $1,000,000.00 divided 
into 5,000 shares of $200 each. 

The method of paying the premium on loans was 
fixed in Article 8 as required by the Act of April 10, 1879 : 

"The premium or bonus bid for the prior right to a 
loan shall be paid in periodical installments." 

The charter was granted October 6, 1890, and is signed 
by Governor James A. Beaver. 

The association proceeded at once to business and 
elected J. M. Kurtz, president ; Lin. F. Ruth, treasurer ; 
Sam H. DuShane, secretary ; W. A. Hogg, solicitor. 

An auditing committee was appointed for the first 
year, consisting of J. C. Kurtz and E. T. Norton. 

The present officers and directors follow : Henry 
Goldsmith, president ; L C. Smutz, vice president ; Alex 
B. Hood, secretary; James B. Stader, treasurer; S. R. 
Goldsmith, solicitor. 

Directors — Dr. J. C. McClenathan. Robert Welsh, W. 
S. Yard, Joseph A. Mason, Robert W. Soisson, C. M. 
Stoner, John Keck, J. B. Kurtz and P. Bufano. 

The published statement dated September 30, 1905, 
follows, and shows something of what the association is 
doing and has done for the community : 

Total loans made in Connellsville since organization 
$750,000.00. 

LOANS ON REAL ESTATE 

Loans on Real Estate September 30, 

1904 $85,150.00 

New Loans made 20,800.00 105,950.00 

Loans matured series I 5,800.00 

Loans paid off 6,600.00 12,400.00 

Loans in force September 30, 1905. . $93,550.00 
Average premium bid on money, 35 per cent. 



CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 359 

ASSETS 

Cash $ 524.60 

^lortgage loans 93,550.00 

Collateral loans 3,873.80 

Real estate 3TG.75 

Unpaid premium 76.70 

Unpaid Dues 2,035.5-i 

Unpaid interest 523.65 

Unpaid fines 29.92 100,990.96 

LIABILITIES 

Capital stock $72,788.15 

Paid up stock 15,100.00 

Certificates of deposit 11,418.75 

Undivided profits 35.02 

Reserve for State taxes 99.27 

Overpaid dues 1,542.56 

Overpaid premium 3.46 

Overpaid interest 3.75 100,990.96 

LOANS ON STOCK AS COLLATERAL 

Collateral loans September 30, 1904. $ 5,476.55 

New loans made 1,333.80 6,810.35 

Loans paid off 2,936.55 

Collateral loans September 30, 1905. $ 3,873.80 

THE CONNELLSVILLE BUILDING AND LOAN 
ASSOCIATION. 

This association was incorporated under Pennsylvania 
laws on January 11, 1897, with a perpetual charter. The 
capital stock was fixed at $1,000,000.00, divided into 5,000 
shares of the par value of $200 each. The name under 
which the charter was granted was the South Connells- 
ville Building and Loan Association ; by action of the 
stockholders in January, 1904, the name was changed to 
the Connellsville Building and Loan Association. 

The officers elected when the company was first organ- 
ized were : Joseph Soisson, president ; Edmund Dunn, 



260 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

vice president ; H. L. Kurtz, treasurer ; Emmor Saunders, 
secretary; P. S. Newmyer, solicitor, and the directors were 
George J. Humbert, J. A. Zimmerman, J. R. Davidson", 
S. A. Spencer, S. R. Slaymaker, J. H. Caudy, W. F. 
Soisson, J. C. Munson and F. A. Kail. 

The object as stated in the petition for letters patent 
was "for the purpose of raising money to be loaned among 
its members and depositors, and for such other purposes 
as are authorized by law." 

Stated annual meetings of the stockholders shall be 
held (x-lrticle VI) on the last Monday of December for 
the nomination of officers, and on the last Monday of 
January of each year for the election of officers and the 
transaction of the affairs of the association * * * 
nine or more members shall constitute a quorum. 

Section 7, of the By-laws provides for the appoint- 
ment of a committee on securities, composed of five mem- 
bers of the board, whose duty it shall be to examine per- 
sonally all real estate offered as security for loans, and 
report to the board their appraisement of the value of the 
same and also their opinion as to the advisability of making 
the loan. 

Stockholders shall not be under twenty-one years ot 
age according to Section 9. 

Married women, (Section 36) "may hold stock in this 
Association and have all the rights and privileges of other 
stockholders of the same series." 

Section 38 authorizes the board of directors to pur- 
chase, improve, rent, sell, and convey real estate with full 
powers on such matters. 

The Constitution and By-laws were amended by the 
stockholders in January, 1901, quite a number of minor 
changes therein being effected, although the main object 
was to amend the provisions as to withdrawals, which 
under the old By-laws discriminated against the holders of 
"running stock." 

The present officers and directors of the association 



ut 



ecc 



50 i 

00 { 

im Banks and Treasu96 '\ 

29 ] 



ments, Bonds, Real 



laneous 



OTAL ASSETS 



76 i 



1 Stock (Paid in) bO ( 

s and Profits 08 t 

iting Notes J50 C 

ts-=including CertificT i 
e to Banks, Etc. {I" S 

laneous ..I 

1 

FAL LIABILITIES .76 S 

Amount Paid in Divi< 
ce Organization 



S 1 



41 
88 
16 
41 
37 



Comparative Statement Showing the Condition of the Several Banking Institutions of Connellsvillc a.ul Ncnn HaNon trom 1S7» to 1906 



|u<t> 



i.riAi. AssK-rs 



BlK.IHnroui 




Youi;hio)(heny Bank 
Vou)(h National Kank of Connellsville 



State Initltutlun 



( O.liHT Wl 

l.ifW 00 

J!J,707 ai» 

6,734 ao 



Sept. 1881 



7,071 II) 
1»H,751 .la 
1!0,007 01 



laTS.-KKl '20 



riO.CKH) DO 

ri.oTi 1 1 



NatlofuJ Clurtcr 



Mar. 1893 



$17C,«:iI HI 
52.7.0O 02 
08.070 42 
(W,862 22 



I 7'..0<)0 oo 

rjr,.07U 71 



•2'2r,r,;iii :», 



Feb. 1901 

J2C7.400 (K 
l.'.>yi.l5 71 
150.2(12 4( 
01,020 2C 



7.''>.o(>o oo 
or,,:}7i oi 
7r..ooo oo 



June 1906 



Hl>2,67<; 80 
KiO.707 72 
44.003 60 
SG.Ml 02 



Rrst National Bank of 
ConneUs>iUe 



June 1876 



H4.075 21 
40.00-1 7m 
11.373 01 
4,414 70 



e 70.0<M) (HI 
HO.ttHl Id 
74,000 OO 
413.330 00 



(iOI 13 
31.000 0< 
20,700 i', 



JIOO.OIO OO 
112.023 Om 
O4.710 15 



s;i.V).2.".« 00 



S OO.OIKI IN 

8.007 IN 

40.000 u< 

2-I0.0S2 70 



Mu. 1893 



$33.S.1131 
02. I3M OO 
GH.4I3 40 
7O.O40 02 



I02H.I3I III 



J 70.OOO OO 

W1.181 1! 

13.800 00 

303.300 OU 



Feb. 1901 



}I08.4U8 42 
334 ..173 
la7,G3<> 02 
80.»I8 at 



118.1)20 0-1 
73.150 01 
724.490 21 



■ 906 



JOSS.OO-I Ita 
570.422 27 
2Itl.0e3 III 
132.03O 51 



»l.s<Ki.02O !i;l 



5 7.'..0<N) IM 

101.818 2f 

74.:ll)0 0< 

1.022.4ir2 tW 



SI .803.020 03 



Second National Kank ol 
CoanellsviUe 



• «93 



5127.8.MI <>3 
lO.OUII no 
24.fiU0 78 
23.120 lO 



3.808 Ol 
11.2.'>ll IKl 

130.117 DO 



Feb. 1901 



190* 



rflC28»l 41 

58,(1211 2:. 

227.038 67 

38,781 13 



H7;l.730 2« 
I73.I50 2«1 
70.130 41 
33,319 01 



««pJl.i:i.-. 111! J7.V).IU15 s- 



Title and Vrwil Com- 
pany of Western 
l^nn., ConneUsville 

IUt 1*01 i Mjt <90* 



Cili/cn's National 
Bank of Connellsville 



I M.ivro 

270.S7O 
4U.4M7 mil 
21,I70 0I 
8,:IA4 211 



J 1:18.282 wv 
2110.058 23| 
«M.533 26 

-.m.oiu 43 
l-i.447 M 



$127,7(«> 01] 
30.HUO M 
28. KU M 
IS,4M0 ft3 



Jun« 190* 



fltM.OTX 40 
133,3A7 
M,n2U ai 

M,:uui 1(1 



{L^O.INM IH',1 J84'J,87l 3.1 J2<H>.5:U1 (Ml f738.l>80 70 



(.'olonlal National 1 Now llaNon Nntlonat 
Bank of Connellsville I Itank otNew Haven, Ha. 



Nov. 1904 



» 11.880 00 

IMl,2ft« IH> 

4(1,752 (V7 

a.l70 7(1 

84 00 



jr.'8.U'J S!l 



$ .MI.INMl IM 

7l.r.7i; 8: 

12..'>IN> 01 
181.058 (Kl 



I35.22tl 

CO.OOO 0(1 
515.1O0 lO 



2SM.087 08 
I0.800 2(1 



«5(I.(MMI (H> 
070 7(1 

25,IMM) «M( 
KKI.IUel 81 

a 1. 470 0(1 



1842.871 :ia t2(m,5:i3 do 



SIIIO.IMMI (Ml 

43.KIII |:i 
tlO.'.'OO (1(1 
4115.0'IU 27 



|90i Sept. 1902 



1906 



(101, l»8 541 
185.551 22 
38,3(14 
J»,287 12 



JUHI.O.H 
31. 110 (15 
IIHI.IMHI (Ml 



tt(IN.401 58 



t 2.S25 00 
13.700 37 



I I.XIII 31 
3.0,S0 00 



$115,003 01 
04.2113 01 
20.523 44 
10,732 01 



fMi.imo oo 

10.71'-' 8,% 

riO.tuHi 00 



A Statement Showing the Financial Qrovvth of Connellsville as Illustrated by n Comparison 

of the Total Resources and Deposits of its Bankin); Institutions, During 

35 Years, from 1871 to 1906 

Deposits Total Resources 

September, 1871 $ 5,147 41---.^ .f 30,438 54 

September 1881 -- 463,401 88 623,743 89 

March 1893 709,048 16 1,079,217 97 

February, 1901 ---- 1,924,393 41 2,685,894 00 

June, 1906 3,679,382 37 5,494,882 49 



CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 261 



are : Edmund Dunn, President ; D. F. Lepley, Vice-presi- 
dent ; James L. Kurtz, Secretary ; J. Fred Kurtz, Treasurer ; 
E. C. Higbee, Solicitor. Directors, F. A. Kail, W. F. Sois- 
son, P. J. Tormay, J. D. Madigan, J. M. Cecil, Peter Rutsek, 
Clark Collins. V. H. Soisson and S. R. Goldsmith. 

A statement of its condition at the close of business 
December 31st, 1905, follows: 
Net profits for the year 1905 : — 

Dividend on Installment Stock, 

10y2% 5,822.29 

Dividend on Paid Up Stock 6%. . 58.80 $ 5,881.09 

RESOURCES. 

Cash on hand $ 2,G30.29 

Mortgage Loans 53,850.00 

Collateral Loans 2,201.00 

Real Estate 6,145.75 

Accounts Receivable 56.37 

$64,883.41 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital Stock Account : 

Installment Stock $63,584.96 

Paid Up Stock 1,050.00 $64,634.96 

Undivided Profits 248.45 

$64,883.41 

MORTGAGE LOANS. 

Loans in force January 1. 1905 $56,150.00 

Loans granted in 1905 11.800.00 

$67,950.00 
Loans cancelled in 1905 14,100.00 

Loans in force December 31, 1905 $53,850.00 



262 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

COLLATERAL LOANS. 

Loans in force January 1, 1905 $ 3,360.00 

Loans granted in 1905 100.00 

$ 3,460.00 
Loans cancelled in 1905 $ 1,359.00 

Loans in force December 31, 1905 $ 2,201.00 

INSTALLMENT STOCK. 

Shares in force January 1, 1905 940^ 

Shares issued in 1905 113 



1,053>^ 
Shares withdrawn in 1905 217 



Shares in force December 31, 1905 836j5^ 

PAID UP STOCK. 

Shares in force December 31, 1905 534 

Number of shares borrowed on 280^4 

Free Shares 561^ 

Number Male Stockholders 98 

Number Female Stockholders 30 



CHAPTER VIII. 

COAL AND COKE. 

England gave us Blackstone ; our laws are her laws. 
Our wealth is our own. The Romans and the Grecians 
put the forge into the hands of Vulcan ; England borrowed 
it for her people ; America spoke to him, and he moved into 
our land. The God of Ages buried the fuel for his bellows 
under our green earth ; our men dig it daily from the ribs 
of Erebus, and feed it into the thousands of fiery throats 
that we call coke ovens. Mere blocks of rough stone and 
clay, they are, nevertheless, the vitals of Connellsville. as 
Connellsville is the heart of their dominion. They are the 
frying-pans at our hearth-stones, the chains that shackle 
the wolves shut out of our doors, the fullness of our money- 
bags, our benediction, so that the hundred years of Connells- 
ville becomes in truth the fifty years of her coke industry' . 

And like many giants of trade and commerce and inven- 
tion and art, the coke trade came to us, a little waif from, 
other parts long since forgotten. The child that could not 
thrive in other cradles, here grew to be the king of his tribe. 
His conception is as dim as the morning mist. In the year 
1831, Isaac Meason was making things of iron at Plum- 
sock, near what is now known as Upper Middletown, in 
this county. It is set up that he made coke out of the Red- 
stone coal for use in his foundry, and so he did ; but he 
was unable to make coke that was satisfactory. Meason 
had hired a man named Nichols, who had come to this coun- 
try from Durham, England, where coke had for years been 
made in bee-hive ovens and in pits on the ground. Nichols, 
it is contended, induced Meason to make the experiment, 
but the Redstone coal, being a little too hard, did not make 
good coke. These operations are enshrouded in mystery, 

26.3 



264 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

and are tradition rather than history. Claims have been 
advanced that about this time coke was also made in Hunt- 
ingdon county, and at Mt. Savage, Md. In 183G, F. H. Oli- 
phant made some coke at the old Oliphant Furnace, south of 
Uniontown, from what he called "Blue Lump Ore," and it is 
tradition that he sent samples of this to the Franklin Insti- 
tute in Philadelphia. The furnaces in those days used char- 
coal for fuel, and there is no record that Oliphant long 
made use of coke for his furnace. 

But in the meantime the real beginning of the coke 
industry had been made. And just as Connellsville today 
sets her seal upon the richest and largest coke production 
in the world, so she had the honor to build the first success- 
ful bee-hive oven in the country. Few residents of Con- 
nellsville today know that the first coke oven in the Con- 
nellsville region was not built near Dawson, as history has 
always spoken, but in the very heart of Connellsville itself, 
and not three hundred feet from the old stone house built 
by Zachariah Connell. The history of that one lone 
oven is most interesting. It was the outcome of the 
carding and fulling industry. In Newton, Conn., there was 
born in the year 1797, a man named Lester LeRoy Norton, 
who, in tender years, came to Connellsville. On the north 
bank of Connell Run, a short distance above the new Hogg 
Addition bridge, there stands the ruin of an old building. 
It was erected by Lester Norton, his brother, and uncle ; it 
was four stories high, built of stone, entered from the level 
of the valley into the first story, and from the level of what 
is now Fairview avenue into the fourth story. This build- 
ing was erected for the manufacture of cotton, and was 
operated by the waters of Connell Run. Meanwhile, the 
raising of sheep had become an avenue of prosperity to 
Fayette county farmers. Norton watched the growth with 
interest. He was a pioneer, not a builder of private fortune. 
So he built, farther down the stream, at a point about three 
hundred feet below the South Side culvert, a second fac- 
tory, for the carding, spinning and fulling of wool only. 



COAL AND COKE 2G5 



This new factory, like its predecessor, was operated bv 
water power, a race having been built along the side of 
the stream, to give sufficient fall. But Norton was not long 
satisfied with the profits derived from this mill. The mak- 
ing of iron was fast becoming a leading industry in the 
infant county, and Norton, ever ready to try the new, began 
to dismantle his carding factory in 1831, and to convert it 
into a foundry. His first move was to put up a cupola large 
enough to melt three tons of iron a day. He produced the 
blast for this by connecting the crank from the water wheel 
which had turned the machinery of the carding factory to 
an overhead beam, which worked in turn a piston in an air- 
tight box called a bellows. Were that same primitive iron 
manufacturer to stand before one of the million-dollar blow- 
ing engines of the Homestead furnaces, he would not know 
that it is still his box bellows, doing the same work, on a 
grander scale. But his plan proved a success. Meantime, 
the adventurous Nichols, disgusted with failure at Upper 
Middletown, drifted into Connellsville. He was complete 
master of the foundry business. Norton placed him over 
his new foundry. His other assistants were Hamilton Alton, 
a first-class molder, Leonard Buel, who had a reputation for 
making tea kettles, and Jacob Robb, who, under the care of 
Nichols, soon became a valuable fireman. Norton's son, 
Philo Norton, who survives today, the father of Eugene T. 
Norton, cashier of the First National Bank, was a lad in 
teens, and was pressed into service to clean w'are and supply 
the blacking. Years before this, probably as early as 1810, 
Zachariah Connell was supplying free coal to the citizens 
of Connellsville from an opening in the old Plummer mine, 
on the east bank of the Youghiogheny, just north of town. 
The fuel for Norton's foundry was hauled from the old 
Plummer mine in wagons, this coal having passed into pri- 
vate ownership. Nichols still had hopes of making coke 
for foundry purposes, and notwithstanding his failure at 
Upper Middletown, he induced Norton to make a second 
trial here. Nichols designed the oven, and it was built bv 



266 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

John Taylor, a stone mason, who later figured in the build- 
ing of ovens near Dawson. This one oven was designed to 
make only 24 and 36-hour coke, because Nichols saw that 
the blast from the wooden bellows was not strong enough to 
consume 48-hour coke, which, because of the elimination 
of a greater proportion of gases, would be harder in cell 
structure. Also, while the oven was of the regular bee-hive 
type, as Nichols had seen erected in the Durham field, it 
was smaller, being only twelve feet square, erected of stone 
and having a hive of bricks. The coal for the charge was 
hauled from the Plummer mine, and the first smoke from 
a Connellsville coke oven went skyward. 

This time Nichols saw his persistence bear fruit, and the 
year 1833 saw the first coke drawn from a bee-hive oven in 
this region. Nichols knew that Meason would desire coke. 
Norton communicated with the man who had failed where 
he had succeeded, and the result was that Meason con- 
tracted for all the coke that Norton himself could not use, 
Meason or his representative coming here to make the bar- 
gain. This surplus was boated down the Youghiogheny 
River to McKeesport, thence up the Monongahela to 
Brownsville, whence it was hauled in wagons to Meason's 
foundry at Plumsock. Afterwards, some of this coke was 
hauled from Connellsville across the country to Plumsock 
in wagons. Norton soon saw his demand for coke greater 
than he could supply from his one oven, so, under Nichol's 
direction, he began making coke in ricks on the ground. 
Because of the excellence of the coal, this proved a decided 
success, and before long Norton was manufacturing many 
more times as much coke in ricks or pits than he was able 
to produce from his oven. 

In 1834 Lester Norton purchased the Plummer farm 
for $37 an acre. It is probable that he had dreams of a 
gigantic iron and coke business, but he was unable to carry 
them into reality. Many years before he died he sold the 
foundry property, and he disposed of his farm, containing 
about seventy-five acres, to his son Philo in 1855, for $100 



COAL AND COKE 267' 



an acre. But he had pointed the way to the manufacture of 
coke, and others were quick to grasp his ideas, and to use 
them to better advantage. After Nichols had completed the 
remodeling of the fulling factory, and the building of the 
first coke oven, he left this town, settling in Donegal. West- 
moreland county, and his presence there and his knowledge 
of what he had left behind can be traced in the long line of 
wagons that for many years continued to haul coal from the 
Plummer mines to the old furnaces in the Westmoreland 
hills, and the factories and distilleries in the vicinity of 
Laurelville. Deluded people — under their very feet was the 
same black vein, but years passed before the opening of 
their eyes, and the dark pits of compressed sunshine they 
were seeking ! 

Among the visitors that came often to Norton's, foun- 
dry and little coke plant was one Herman Gebhart, at times 
a merchant, at times a manufacturer, always an enterprising 
citizen ; sometimes striving alone, sometimes in partnership 
with fellow townsmen. He was a warm friend of Norton's, 
and because of his oft-repeated visits to the foundry, became 
much interested, not only in the moulding of pots and ket- 
tles, and other shapes in iron, but in the making of coke. 
Just what influence his early interest in the business had on 
the infant industry will be observed later. 

Besides being one of the first paper makers in Fayette 
county, Gebhart, in partnership with Asa Smith, operated, 
at one time, a nail factory on the present site of the B. & O. 
railroad passenger station. He later leased this to James 
Harvey White and Silas White. The latter, while on his 
way with his family to Louisiana, was detained here by the 
illness of his son, who died of smallpox, and was buried here. 
The Wliites evidently did not prosper in the nail business, 
and subsequently the nail factory was converted into a 
foundry, and operated by John and Jacob Anderson. Geb- 
hart, it will thus be seen, was constantly in touch with the 
industries in which the need of coke was apparent, and 
Nichols, coming from England with his knowledge of the 



268 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



fuel there, probably diffused enough knowledge among the 
early residents here to keep the worm working in Gebhart's 
mind. Gebhart's ventures in the paper business proved suc- 
cessful for a time, but as the industry passed from the hills 
of Fayette county into the overwhelming gulf of the city 
factory systems, which also killed off the carding and full- 
ing mills in this vicinity, he was keen enough to withdraw 
from the enterprise before it had disgorged from his pockets 
all it had put into them. In 1842 he left Connellsville, and, 
settling in Dayton, became one of the prominent residents 
of that growing town. That he left Connellsville, and made 
his home in the district which later aff'orded a market for 
the great industry which was to grow up behind him, is one 
of the finger-boards along the highways of the coke trade. 
The history of the Connellsville coke region has always 
begtm with the printed story of how the first coke made 
was boated down the river to Cincinnati, but from the fore- 
going facts it will be easily understood why it went to Cin- 
cinnati, why Gebhart was called in to help dispose of it 
after it arrived there, and why it was manufactured by a 
partnership including John Taylor, the stone mason. 

James Francis is a name to be conjured with in this 
history. His deeds are set forth in other chapters, yet, of 
all the acts he accomplished, that which shines out most 
gloriously for this region today was, that when he died, 
William Turner, his brother-in-law, came into possession of 
some of his property and his money. Turner's father was 
William G. Turner, an Englishman, who was in turn a 
teamster or a surveyor, just as opportunity gave him display 
for his resources. The Turners had, like Nichols, seen coke 
manufactured in their native land. The younger Turner 
was also a surveyor, but he found so little to do that he kept 
tavern part of the time, and ere long had enough funds to 
erect the "Turner Inn," the old stone hostelry with the 
plastered walls now used as a company dwelling house at 
Trotter. Here he lodged the drovers and herdsmen, coming 
and going with their stock, and his fame spread far and wide 



COAL AND COKE 



269 



as a royal host and entertainer. He also owned the only boat 
of consequence on the river at this place, which he called 
the "Walking- Ritchey," named, it would seem, as an ironical 
slap at a certain old school-master who paraded the village 
streets, with his advice ever ready at the tip of his tongue, 
often when it was not asked for. As soon as the younger 
Turner got his raise of good fortune, he evidently began to 
look about for investment. He was acquainted with John 
Tavlor, the stone mason ; Taylor had in the meantime come 
into possession of some land at the mouth of the Hickman 
Run on the Youghiogheny River, below Broad Ford. Tn 
1(S41, Turner, who was the moving spirit, looked over the 
field, in order to pick out partners who would combine the 
brains and backing for the new venture in coke making. 
Tavlor was a stone mason — he could build the ovens ! Be- 
sides, he had the coal land. Turner himself knew how to 
make the coke. But whom might he select otherwise, to 
complete the partnership ? Not only would he produce coke 
— he must market it. There were no railroads ; only the 
river as a means of transportation. And what was a river 
without boats? "Zooks !" we can almost hear the English- 
man say, 'T must get carpenters into this firm!" 

And he did. His choice fell upon Provance McCor- 
mick and James Campbell. Turner seems to have been a 
sort of silent partner, notwithstanding the fact that he sug- 
gested the organization of the partnership, although, since 
he was not a stone mason or a carpenter, the reason why, 
in the notes of the early coke history, he does not stand out 
prominently until the finished product was ready for ship- 
ment to market, may be readily explained. The partners 
wasted little time. Taylor set to work at once, and erected 
the four bee-hive ovens, and after building them, was the 
man that mined the coal for them. The agreement concern- 
ing this partnership, its operations, and the divisions of the 
proceeds, would be an interesting document, if it existed 
today. 

McCormick was a great-grandson of William Craw- 



210 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

ford, the pioneer of Stewart's Crossing, and from early 
manhood had been compelled to face big problems in the 
world. Up until 1830 he had been a teamster part of the 
time, hauling merchandise between Pittsburgh and Phila- 
delphia. After this he had for some time been employed in 
the manufacture of gun barrels for the Government. The 
new ovens were located at what was then known as Sedg- 
wick Station. All through the fall and winter of 1841, the 
little ovens continued to produce coke, and by the spring of 
1842 the diminutive plant was ready for its shipment. 
Campbell and McCormick in the meantime had been busy 
on the construction of two flat-boats. Turner probably was 
in communication with Major Gebhart about this time, be- 
cause it is difficult to disassociate the idea of his actions 
from this time on with his partnership with the firm in 
the beginning. Gebhart had come back from Dayton to 
Connellsville, and stopped at Turner's home. Turner, learn- 
ing from him the rapid growth of the iron business down 
the Ohio River, asked him if he did not think it would pay 
to make coke here and ship it down the river by boats. 
Gebhart advised Turner that he believed the plan would be 
profitable, and the result of that advice was that, when the 
riat-boats which McCormick and Cariipbell had built were 
loaded with two thousand bushels of the coke at Sedgwick, 
Turner purchased the cargo. He himself piloted the two 
boats down the Youghiogheny River, starting with a freshet 
in the spring of 1842, and reaching Cincinnati in safety. 
It does not seem probable that Turner had any dealings with 
Major Gebhart in Dayton as he went down the river with 
his boats. But when Turner tried to dispose of his coke 
in Cincinnati, he learned that he was sadly ahead of his time. 
The foundrymen called the coke "cinders," but they did not 
■despise it so much on that account, since that was the early 
name of coke. Turner, in distress, had recourse to Geb- 
hart. The latter went from Dayton to the assistance of his 
friend, and it was through his influence entirely that Tur- 
ner was able to dispose of the half of the cargo by peddling 




THE GATEWAY TO WEAI.TH IN THE CONNELI.SVILLB COKE RRGION 



272 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

from place to place, getting an average of eight cents a 
bushel. The other half of the cargo was then boated up the 
canal to Dayton, and there Gebhart induced Armstrong, 
the proprietor of the largest foundry in Dayton, to use the 
coke. There is an old tradition that in part payment for this 
Turner was given a patent iron grist mill, for which great 
things had been promised ; that this mill was brought home 
by Turner and placed in the Strickler & Nickel grist mill in 
New Haven ; that it proved a failure, and was later sold for 
the puny sum of thirty dollars. Proof of this story seems 
elusive. At all events, the first partnership firm in the coke 
business was too easily discouraged. Turner evidently did 
not purchase a second cargo from the McCormick, Taylor 
and Campbell Company, and the ovens were allowed to be- 
come idle. But down in Dayton, Armstrong was using tiiat 
one boat load of coke, and praising its c|ualities. Had there 
been means of easy communication at that time, it is aiuiost 
a certaint) that the hardy coke pioneers, instead of dissolv- 
ing partnership, as they did, would have been busy getting 
out the second shipment to go down the river. For not long 
after this transaction, the Armstrong foundry sent a repre- 
sentative here, offering a market and a fair price for all the 
coke that could be sent down the Youghiogheny. 

Turner's historv, after this venture, is not so clearly 
known, respecting his coke operations. That he did not give 
up his dream is certain. For old residents remember that 
he was accustomed to load his boat, "The Walking Ritchie," 
with coke, and take it down the river, bringing back in it 
domestic supplies. This seems to verify the story that after 
his venture with McCormick and Campbell and Taylor, he 
began the manufacture of coke in ricks on the ground at 
a point near what is now the Fort Hill works, under some 
agreement with Thomas Gregg, and that later, when Gregg 
erected a small plant of bee-hive ovens, Turner, in partner- 
ship with Richard Bookens, continued to boat the product 
down the river to the foundries at Cincinnati and other Ohio 
River towns. 



COAL AND COKE 273 



Notwithstanding the discouragement of Tavlor, Mc- 
Cormick and Campbell the httle plant at Sedgwick was not 
long idle. A sturdy infant had been born in 1823, and his 
parents christened him James Cochran. His neighbors 
re-christened him "Little Jim." When a mere lad, with his 
brother Sample Cochran, he had been employed to wash sand 
at the banks of his uncle, Alordecai Cochran, along the 
Youghiogheny River a short distance below Broad Ford. 
The two boys became ambitious. They built a boat which 
would hold one hundred tons of sand. James Cochran 
seems to have done the work, because there is a record show- 
ing that he gave a half interest in the boat to his brother 
to pay for the lumber used in the construction. The two 
boys took a cargo of sand to Pittsburgh, where they sold it 
to the glass factories, receiving two dollars a ton. They 
sold the boat in Pittsburg also, and returned home each 
with about fifty dollars in pocket. Feeling rich, they leased 
two of the four ovens of the Fayette works at Sedgwick 
and after making two boat loads of coke each boat holding 
six thousand tons, they boated it down the river. The start 
was made April 1st, 1843. They had a covering of sand 
over one part of the cargo, and on this sand bed a large fire 
was kept burning. By the time they reached Wheeling, with 
no other covering over them than the blue sky, they discov- 
ered that the cargo of coke under the sand was afire. It was 
with difficulty that they prevented the fire from burning and 
sinking the boat. Before proceeding farther down the river, 
they erected a shed over the coke, and the larger fire was not 
necessary. When they reached Cincinnati, it was several days 
before they happened across Miles Greenwood. He was the 
man who started the Connellsville coke industry on its on- 
ward rush to gigantic proportions. He had been using 
Monongahela River coke in his foundries. Greenwood was 
born in New Jersey in the year 1807. He moved to New 
York, thence to the New Harmony Community, whence he 
drifted into Pittsburg in 1825, where he learned the iron 
business. Three years later he opened an iron foundry in 



274 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Pittsburgh, and then moved to Cincinnati, where he enlarged 
the business, employing, in 1828, ten hands. This was the 
size of his foundry when the Cochrans sold him their cargo 
of coke at seven cents a bushel. That the coke did him no 
harm is evident from the fact that in 1850 he had so pros- 
pered that his foundry was employing three hundred work- 
men. In 1861, still continuing the use of the Connellsville 
coke, his entire plant was turned into a Government arsenal, 
with seven hundred workmen employed, and during the 
Civil War turned out forty thousand Springfield rifles, two 
hundred bronze cannon, hundreds of caissons and gun car- 
riages, and one sea-going coast defense monitor. 

From the time Greenwood first tried the modest cargo 
of the Cochran's coke, he would use no other. For the first 
consignment he paid half cash and gave notes for the other 
half, which notes he was able to pay before their maturity. 
The Cochrans continued to make coke at the Fayette works, 
which was enlarged in 1860 to thirty ovens. In 1865 Schoen- 
berger & Co., of Pittsburgh, purchased a one-third interest 
in this plant. The iron makers had at last awakened to the 
real worth of the Connellsville coking fields ! 

But in the meantime operations had been growing else- 
where. When Turner erected three ovens near Fort Hill, 
and was able to sell the coke in Cincinnati, Col. Alex Hill 
opened the vein of coal near the Thomas Gregg ovens, and 
erected there four ovens. Soon after he built eight more. 
This must have been about 184-t or 1845. These ovens were 
all of the same type, the bee-hive oven, and very small at 
that. 

About this time, also, a new name came into the coke 
industry. Stewart Strickler was born in New Salem, Fay- 
ette county, in 1812. It is a noteworthy incident that this 
man had his birthplace in the old town which is today the 
hub of the busy circle of plants in the Lower Connellsville 
region. He moved into this district when young, and en- 
gaged in the business of boating eggs, and other produce, 
down the Youghiogheny River to Pittsburgh and other 



COAL AND COKE 275 



points below. In 1837 he failed financially, and found him- 
self plunged into debt. But he was made of stern clay. He 
remembered that at Jacob's Creek, where the old Trumball 
Furnace had operated for many years, but which had been 
out of blast for as many more years at this time, he had seen 
a great pyramid of iron ore slag and cinders. He knew that 
in the old process of smelting, much of the iron was left 
unextracted from the ore, and he conceived the idea of pur- 
chasing this pile of slag, boating it down the river to the 
Pittsburgh and Cincinnati mills, and there selling it to the 
proprietors. He built a boat, bought a cargo of the stuff, 
paying fifty cents a ton for it, and took it to Pittsburgh. He 
sold the whole cargo at $1.50 a ton. This seems like a 
scheme easily planned to us who live in these times where 
every scrap of the market, the home and the mill is turned 
into something else, but in Strickler's time this was a much 
keener example of industrial acuteness. The man who 
could realize profit out of an old stone furnace ruins in the 
bushes was the sort of a man who would not stop to delve 
deeper into the resources of nature. And so Strickler's 
next move was the purchase of ten acres of coal along the 
Youghiogheny River, which he did in the early forties. That 
purchase was the nucleus of the development which sprang 
up around the little village known as Jimtown. where the 
Sterling works are now located. There Strickler built six 
bee-hive ovens, and the coke produced therein he at first 
sold to the Cochrans. In 1855 he purchased 80 acres of the 
Jesse Taylor tract of coal, in the same neighborhood, be- 
cause he seems to have foreseen the advent of the railroad 
up the Youghiogheny River, and had a vision of the future 
prospects of coke making. His vision came true. And 
when, in 1857, the Pittsburgh & Connellsville railroad was 
built, he erected eighty ovens on this Taylor tract. Sterling 
is some distance up the hollow from the Youghiogheny 
River, and in order to get the coke to the railroad, Strickler 
laid a tram-road from his plant to the railroad siding. 
From the first this plant made money for its owner. The 



276 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

coke was sold to Grafif, Bennett & Co., of Pittsburgh, who 
used daily in their foundries two thousand bushels. This 
contract was in force for several years, and from 1860 till 
1864 the Pittsburgh company was supplied wholly, or nearly 
so, from this Sterling works. By this time the iron men 
were fully convinced of the necessity of Connellsville coke, 
and Graff, Bennett & Co. made Strickler an offer of thirty- 
five thousand dollars for a one-third interest in Sterling. 
Strickler accepted the bid. and a few months later Schoen- 
berger & Co. purchased the other two-thirds interest for 
forty-thousand dollars. Strickler, had he made investment 
of these funds, which made him rich at that time, in Con- 
nellsville coal fields, and in their development, would have 
left the wealthiest generation in Fayette county. But he 
seems to have been satisfied with his transaction, and later 
moved to Tennessee, where he died. As an instance of the 
rapid growth in the value of Connellsville coking coal lands, 
even in those early times, it may be cited that in the years 
between 1831: and 18-tO, Strickler purchased his father's 
farm at a price averaging thirty dollars an acre, and in 
1864 he sold it to J. K. Ewing for two hundred dollars an 
acre ; Ewing, in turn, selling it not long afterwards for 
double the latter sum. 

But long before this the name of Norton had come 
back into prominence in the Connellsville region, as that 
identified with the making of coke, and the old Plummer 
mine was again associated with the infant industry. Philo 
Norton, the son of Lester LeRoy Norton, who had built the 
first coke oven in the Connellsville region, took up the manu- 
facture of coke in the year 1855. Many years before Lestei 
Norton had died, he sold the old foundry property, but his 
son Philo had purchased the old Plummer surface and coal, 
and there he determined, in 1855, to erect coke ovens. The 
opening of the seam of coal was made near the top of the 
hill, on this farm of seventy-five acres, and the four ovens 
were built on the east bank of Mountz Creek, not more than 
two hundred feet from the present Davidson bridge, at the 



:OAL AND COKE 2i 



end of Eighth street. A road was excavated out of the side 
of the embankment, leading off from the Eighth street road, 
and from the yard the coke was hauled in wagons to the 
Pittsburgh & Connellsville railroad. Norton also burned the 
coal in ricks, and made five times as much in these pits as 
in his ovens. The coke, when burned long enough, was 
drawn out with hooks, and cooled with water thrown on by 
the bucketful. Philo Norton never shipped any coke in 
boats, all of his production going out on the railroad. He 
received three cents a bushel, aboard the cars. Norton asso- 
ciated with him in his enterprise John Meskinnin and Wil- 
liam Faber, and this firm made the first definite contract with 
the railroad for Connellsville coke shipments. This hap- 
pened in the year 1858. Graft', Bennett & Co. desired a regu- 
lar supply. Between Connellsville and Pittsburgh the rail- 
road company charged a freight tarift of twenty-two dollars 
a car. This rate, the consumers thought, was exorbitant, 
but there seemed no redress, because Graft, Bennett & Co. 
had no space for a storage capacity in Pittsburgh ; only 
one producer in this region had such a capacity, and that 
producer was Norton's firm. Without storage capacity at 
the producing and the consuming ends of the industry, boat 
transportation was out of the question, since the Youghio- 
gheny River aftorded boating stage only during freshets. 
Graft, Bennett & Co. therefore applied to Norton, in the 
hope that he might be able to lighten the burden of freight 
rates. Benjamin Latrobe was then president of the Pitts- 
burgh & Connellsville railroad, and, knowing his fondness 
'for figures and tabulated prospectuses, Norton went to him 
with a sheet of convincing statistics. Norton, in his esti- 
mates, had allowed for only one freshet a year, when three 
could be depended upon ; he counted the cost of holding the 
production in stock for one year, charging ten per cent, 
interest on the money necessary ; he counted the cost of 
handling at double the prevailing prices ; likewise he counted 
the cost at running it by boat to Pittsburgh at double the 
average price, and doubled the estimated cost for loss of 



278 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

boats, accidents and break-downs. The total cost for send- 
ing the coke into Pittsburgh by boat, on these figures, was 
a little less than six dollars a ton. Latrobe examined the 
figures, considered for some time, and then said : "You 
have put the matter beyond all doubt ; what do you propose 
to do?" Norton replied that his firm would give the rail- 
roads a rate of nine dollars a car. This rate was accepted, 
and a written contract drawn upon these lines. This con- 
tract is in existence today. Towards the close of the Civil 
War, Norton had on hand between three and four hundred 
thousand bushels of seventy-two and ninety-six-hour coke, 
which went to all parts of the country. Every car load 
brought back an order for more "of the same kind." In 
1862. Norton sold out to his partners, who in turn took in 
others. Norton had had a twenty-years" lease on the David- 
son farm, with the privilege of a renewal for a like period 
of years, and when he sold out to Meskinnin and Faber 
these mining rights went with the deed. Daniel R. David- 
son was not then a member of this coke firm, because he 
seems to have been devoting himself to railroad building. 
He later sold the surface also to the firm of Meskin- 
nin, Faber & Bailey, who built the Davidson works. Norton 
had sunk the shaft for this plot of coal on the bank of the 
Youghiogheny River, and his intention was to mine the coal, 
and run the headings so that the main haulage would emerge 
from the hill opposite his four ovens. His plan was to build 
a block of ovens on the river, but when his partners came 
into possession of the lease and his interest, they erected the 
ovens on the present site of the works. These ovens were 
larger than others previously erected. The first oven, built 
by Lester Norton, made only fifty bushels of coke at a 
charge ; Philo Norton's ovens made each from one hundred 
and fifty to one hundred and ninety bushels. 

In the meantime the coke industry had been thriving 
elsewhere. As stated, in 1860 thirty ovens were built at 
Sedgwick; in 1864 Cochran & Keister built the Jackson 
works of forty ovens on the Hickman branch, and shipped 



yrrms.^ -LX".~:i-€-»~mr:-:fe.r "— - 





280 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

the coke to the railroad by tram till the Hickman Run 
branch was built in 1871. Then the Laughlin plant was 
built, a short distance below Broad Ford, about the time the 
Connellsville Gas Coal Company was organized, which was 
an outgrowth of the Philo Norton venture. In 1866 forty 
ovens were built at Davidson by this company. John F. 
Dravo took charge of the company's interests in 1868, and 
greatly enlarged the plant. Watt, Taylor & Co. entered the 
field in 1869 with a plant of forty ovens at Watt station. 
Watt and Davidson were the only coke plants on the Fay- 
ette branch till 1872, when Paull, Brown & Co. erected a 
plant of one hundred ovens on the James Paull farm west of 
Dunbar. The next development was along the Mt. Pleasant 
branch of the B. & O. railroad, where Henry Clay and Mor- 
gan works were built in 1871 ; and from this time onward 
the history of the Connellsville coke region is only a repeti- 
tion of new strings of ovens going up, immense aggrandize- 
ment in wealth, many successes and very few failures. In 
1876 there were three thousand ovens in the district, and 
three years later the number had increased to four thousand. 
Then came a sudden and unprecedented demand for Con- 
nellsville coke, largely made by the growth of the iron 
business in Allegheny county. Although the heart of the 
iron trade in this country today, strange as it may seem, 
Allegheny county did not have a single furnace within her 
boundaries between the years of 1791, when the old Shady- 
side Furnace was abandoned, till 1859, when Graff, Bennett 
& Co. constructed the Clinton Furnace, which this firm blew 
in on coke on the last Monday in October, 1859. In the year 
1880 the H. C. Frick Coke Company erected a crusher, for 
the purpose of grading the sizes of coke for foundry and 
domestic uses. It was about this time that the first big 
shipments to San Francisco were made, the smelting indus- 
try there causing a demand for the Connellsville article on 
the Pacific slope, and so rapid was the growth of the demand 
from this tinie on that, except in times of general business 
depression, the Connellsville region has never been able to 
supply the demand of the consumers. 



COAL AND COKE 281 



From the late seventies on. the history of the coke 
region has been largely the biography of one of the gigantic 
figures in the world's financial and industrial interests today. 
Henry Clay Frick. He was born in the little hamlet of West 
Overton, a short distance north of Scottdale. When very 
young he appeared as a youth with resolute face among the 
people of Broad Ford. His rapid acquisition of plant after 
plant in the coke fields has always baffled his biographers, 
and his success in these ventures can only be based on the 
single theory that he had a keen insight into the needs of 
the future ; stood on the brink many times, but always 
leaped at the fortunate moment ; was taciturn enough to 
keep his prospects to himself, ventured far enough to haz- 
ard big stakes, then stepped into the scales with the weight 
of enough work to turn the balance in his favor — and won ! 
As the president of the H. C. Frick Coke Company, he 
p''ade gigantic strides, until his firm name came to stand for 
leadership in the Connellsville region. Its position is the 
same today. In 1882 the H. C. Frick Coke Company owned 
only Henry Clay Frick, Morgan. White. Foundry. Eagle. 
Summit. Tip Top and Valley, numbering 1.022 ovens, out 
of a total of 8.430 in the region, the district then comprising 
sixty-seven plants. The Connellsville coke region today 
comprises ninetv-nine plants, and a glance at the table will 
show that as the region has grown, the Frick Companv has 
increased, instead of decreased its dominating influence. 

The second name of importance in the coke industry 
in its years of wonderful growth is W. J. Rainey. now dead. 
Starting with the ownership of a single plant in the early 
eighties, he increased his holdings to their present remark- 
able showing. He was the sole owner of the plants that bear 
his name, and they are still operated under his name, the 
same as if he still lived, no readjustment of the estate having 
"been made so far as this operative title is concerned. The 
table will show the Rainey holdings. 

The man who is responsible for the wonderful success 
and growth of the H. C. Frick Coke Company is Thomas 





VIEWS IN CONNKIJ.SVILT.E COAI, AND COKE REGION 



COAL AND COKE 283 



Lynch, whose present high place as president of the com- 
pany today is only the culmination of a record as long and 
as praiseworthy as the life of the company itself. He started 
in a humble clerical position at Broad Ford, when Mr. 
Frick was a boy, and as Frick grew in power and wealth 
with the assistance of the Fergusons, the Mellons and An- 
drew Carnegie, Lynch grew in executive ability and wide 
generalship. Mr. Lynch is not only the president of the H. 
C. Frick Coke Company holdings in the Connellsville region, 
but his management extends over all the coal and coke hold- 
ings of the United States Steel Corporation, including those 
in the Pittsburgh district. West Virginia and elsewhere. 

The distinct feature of the Connellsville coke industry 
is its simplicity. Just as Lester Norton dumped the Plum- 
mer coal into his little crude oven, burned it till he had clari- 
fied it of its gases, and then drew it out ready for use, so is 
coke made in this district at the present time. All the ovens 
are of the bee-hive type, with the exception of a few experi- 
mental ovens, and the one plant of the Semet-Solvay Com- 
pany at Dunbar. This plant, a model in every respect, was 
begun in 1895, when 50 ovens were built, and enlarged in 
1903, when GO ovens were added, and has been successfully 
operated without a single shut-down ever since that time. 
Pitch and ammonia are extracted from the coal burned, and 
the gas resulting from combustion is carried off below the 
ovens and used to operate the boilers of the plant, and to 
operate the machinery of the Continuous Glass Press Com- 
pany's plant, located a short distance up Dunbar Creek. The 
coal burned in these by-product ovens is mined from the 
Freeport vein between Dunbar borough and the Youghio- 
gheny River. This is the only plant in the region using 
Freeport coal, but manv tests are now being made of the 
cores taken from diamond drill holes put down in different 
parts of the region, and there is a probability that ere long- 
plants of coke ovens long idle because of the exhaustion of 
the supply of the Connellsville seam, will be bright once 
again in the manufacture of coke from this Freeport vein^ 



28-i CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

There have been many guesses made as to how long the 
Connellsville coking coal will hold out. It is difficult to esti- 
mate, because the number of coke ovens so steadily grows, 
the exhaustion of the coal depending entirely upon the brisk- 
ness or dullness of national business conditions. It is esti- 
mated, however, that the Connellsville coking belt alone 
contains something like 64,000 acres of coal, and that about 
one-third of this amount has already been worked out clean. 
The Connellsville region today comprises, according to the 
last tabulated report of The Connellsville Courier, ninety- 
nine plants, having 23,713 coke ovens; the Lower Connells- 
ville region has fifty-five plants and 10,690 ovens. 

The rapid growth of the industry in the Lower Con- 
nellsville region is the wonder of all who have taken note 
of its beginning and its advancement. For years and years 
the coke manufacturers refused to consider the coal in the 
Lower Connellsville field as fit for coking purposes. It is 
much harder than that in the real Connellsville vein. But 
the changes in the manufacture of steel, the urgent demand 
for coke and the real worth of this seam all combined, 
within the last ten years, to give it a place of prominence only 
second to that of the Connellsville field itself. As soon as 
the plants erected at Continental, Leckrone, Footedale and 
elsewhere demonstrated that the Lower Connellsville region 
was destined to have a great future, P'ayette county went 
"coal crazy!" Farms that had been considered only heir- 
looms of dead fathers and grandfathers, suddenly blos- 
somed into gold. Options were taken on every acre of coal 
land in the southern end of the county, these options were 
sold and resold again, till, finally, the coal seam alone with 
mining rights brought as much as two thousand dollars an 
acre ! Farmers, suddenlv enriched by the cash sale of the 
coal under their farms, went into the coke business them- 
selves in many instances, and every branch of the profes- 
sions was depleted to fill up the ranks of "coal men," — men 
who shut their law offices to option the black diamonds 
mider the hills, men who, not worth a penny to-day, by the 



COAL AND COKE 285 



turning of a deal were worth a hundred thousand dollars 
to-morrow. As Uniontown was close to these operations, 
nearly all this wealth settled down in that town, and Fay- 
ette's capital became the Rome of this new invasion into new 
fields. This wealth is today reflected in the home life of 
Uniontown's business men, and in her banks, one of which 
takes first rank in the State of Pennsylvania, and second in 
the United States ! 

This story is an attempt, not to describe coke mak- 
ing, but to tell of the history of that manufacture. Still, 
a few figures showing the growth and magnitude of the 
business may be interesting. At the time this book goes 
to press the two Connellsville regions are sending out coke 
at the rate of about four hundred thousand tons every 
week ! This is at the rate of about twenty million and eight 
hundred thousand tons a year. Estimating that this would 
be about sixteen thousand cars a week, the year's production 
would make up a train so long that the engine in front of it 
would go to San Francisco and come back to Connellsville 
before the caboose had gotten started out of the Connells- 
ville yards ! For the year nineteen hundred and five the 
two Connellsville regions produced from their thirty thou- 
sand eight hundred and forty-two ovens, nearly eighteen 
millions of tons of coke, which, at the average price for the 
year, estimated at $2.2G a ton, brought in the magnificent 
revenue of almost forty-one millions of dollars ! In 1880. 
the seven thousand ovens shipped something a little more 
than two millions of tons at an average price of $1.79 a ton, 
giving a revenue of about four millions of dollars. The reve- 
nue for the year 190(3 will approach sixty millions of dol- 
lars ! 

The Connellsville Coke region has seen many bitter 
strikes, the chief of which were in the years 1880, 1884, 
1886, 1889 and 1894. Many men were killed, especially in 
the last two. In the spring of 1894, Joseph Paddock, chief 
engineer for the H. C. Frick Coke Company, was beaten 
to death with clubs at the Davidson plant. After a pro- 



286 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

longed and notable struggle, the workmen gradually 
returned to work, this strike bringing about the disorganiza- 
tion of labor unions in the coke region. The workmen in 
the region, numbering about thirty thousand, are paid wages 
according to the "Frick scale," which fixes the prices paid 
for mining coal, drawing the ovens, etc., according to the 
selling price of coke. Although this scale may not be fol- 
lowed accurately, the workmen's wages have steadily ad- 
vanced since 1894, till now they are receiving the highest 
prices ever paid in the district, and the relations between 
capital and labor are so genial and happy that conditions 
have excited the admiration of the world. 

The mining of coal has seriously interfered with the 
springs and streams in the Connellsville district, and as the 
watering of ovens and the operation of the plants requires 
a large supply of water throughout the district, it has been 
necessary to install great water systems. The H. C. Frick 
Coke Company gets its supply of water from the Trotter 
Water Company and the Mt. Pleasant Water Company 
principally. The former has a pumping station above Con- 
nellsville on the Youghiogheny River with a capacity of ten 
.millions of gallons a day, another on the Monongahela 
River at Huron with a capacity of six millions a day, an- 
other at Broad Ford, while the Mt. Pleasant Water Com- 
pany dams the waters of Jacob's Creek at Bridgeport, West- 
moreland county, and supplies the town of Mt. Pleasant as 
well as the plants in the north end of the region. There is a 
continuous network of pipe lines from United to the Monon- 
gahela River, with reservoirs and miles on miles of branch 
lines. The first plant built was that at Broad Ford, which 
was erected in the early eighties. 

Although the coke is drawn from the ovens of the 
Connellsville regions by hand, there has recently been pat- 
ented by the Covington Machine Company of Covington. 
Ky., an electric coke drawer, which has proven successful 
at Continental No. 1, where three are in operation, and at 
the Oliver plant, where two are working. Each of these 
machines can draw thirty-six ovens a day. 

The appended table shows the name of each plant in 
the two Connellsville regions, the number of ovens at e^.ch. 
and the names of the owners. 



COAL AND COKE 



y.si 



CONNELLSVILLE COKE REGION. 



NO. 
OVENS 



NAME OF WORKS 



NAME OF OPERATORS 



362 Acme W. J. Rainey 

82 Acme Penn Coke Co. 

375 Adelaide H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

252 Alverton No. 1 H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

104 Alverton No. 2 H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

302 Atlas Cambria Steel Co. 

400 Baggaley H. C. Frick, Coke Co. 

100 Bessemer H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

200 Bitner H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

240 Brinkerton H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

156 Buckeye H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

86 Bourne Wharton Furnace Co. 

120 Boyer ^lt. Pleasant Coke Co. 

260 Calumet H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

301 Central H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

54 Chester E. A. Humphries & Co. 

50 Claire Penn Coke Co. 

108 Clarissa James Cochran Sons Co. 

120 Coalbrook H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

400 Continental No. 1. .H. C. Frick Coke Co. 



.300 Continental No 
300 Continental No 
100 Crossland 
333 Davidson . 

40 Dexter . . , 
230 Dorothy . 

80 Eagle .... 

48 Enterprise 
218 Elm Grove 
120 Empire . 

20 Florence 
186 Fort Hill 

97 Foundry 

50 Franklin 



, H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

, H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

. H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

. H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

J. R. Stauffer & Co. 

. H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

. H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

. H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

. W. T. Rainey 

. Bessemer Coke Co. 

.E. A. Humphries Coke Co. 

. W. J. Rainey 

. H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

.Lincoln Coal & Coke Co. 



288 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



105 Frick 

50 Gilniore .... 




. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. . Gilmore Coke Co. 


408 Grace 

150 Hazlett 

272 Hecla No. 1 . 




. . W. J. Rainey 

. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

. . Hecla Coke Co. 


500 Hecla No. 2. 




. . He^la Coke Co. 


300 Hecla No 3 




Hecla Coke Co 


50 Hester 




. . ^enn Coke Co. 


120 Henry Clay . 
20 Home 




. .H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. . Stauffer & Wiley 


355 Hostetter . . . 




. . Hostetter-Connellsville Coke Co. 


100 Humphreys . 




. . Bessemer Coke Co. 


250 Juniata 




. . Tuniata Coke Co. 


306 Kyle 

500 Leisenring Nc 
500 Leisenring Nc 
504 Leisenring Nc 

308 Leith 

227 Lemont No. 1 
350 Lemont No. 
208 Mahoning . . 


). 1 

). 2 
). 3 

3.. 


. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. . Cambria Steel Co. 


510 Mammoth . . 
400 Marguerite . 




. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
H. C. Frick Coke Co. 


165 Morgan .... 

540 Mt. Braddock 

80 Mt. Hope . . . 




. .H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. .W. J. Rainey 
. . Taylor & Co. 


82 Mullen 

197 Mutual 

329 Nellie 




. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. . Brown & Cochran 


252 Oliphant 




. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. 


328 Oliver No. 1 . 




. .Oliver & Snyder Steel Co. 


480 Oliver No. 2 




. . Oliver & Snyder Steel Co. 


300 Oliver No. 3 . 




. . Oliver & Snyder Steel Co. 


400 OHver No. 4. 




. . Oliver & Snyder Steel Co. 


228 Painter 

489 Paul 




. . H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. . W. J. Rainev 


92 Pennsville . . 




. . Pennsville Coke Co. 



COAL AND COKE 



289 



62 
186 
445 
650 
110 
300 
625 
252 
205 
151 

61 
901 
100 
155 
100 
121 

40. 
464 

60 

72 
350 
251 

80 
200 
352 
130 
500 
241 
23,713 

40 

32 
138 

40 

400 

■ 400 

16 

16 



No 



Percy . . 
Rainey . 
Redstone 
Revere . 
Semet-Solvav 
Shoaf 
Southwest No 
Southwest No 
Southwest No 
Southwest No 
Spring Grove 
Standard 
Sterhng- 
Stewart 
Summit 
Tip Top 
Thomas 
Trotter 
Tyrone 
Union . 
United . 
Vahey . 
Veteran 
White . 
Whitney 
Wynn . 
Yorkrun 
Youns^stown 



Percy Mining Co. , 
.W. J. Rainey 

H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
, W. J. Rainey 
, Dunbar Furnace Co. 

H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

Cochran Bros. 

II. C. Frick Coke Co. 

H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

Stewart Iron Co. 

H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

The Why el Coke Co. 

H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

Kendall Coal & Coke Co. 

W. J. Rainey 
, H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

Veteran Coke Co. 
, H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. Hostetter-Connellsville Coke Co. 
. H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. H. C. Frick Coke Co. 
. H. C. Frick Coke Co. 



Ada Royal Coal & Coke Co. 

Annamyra Leckrone Coke Co. 

Atcheson Republic Iron & Steel Co. 

Baxter's Ridge .... Baxter's Ridge Coal & Coke Co. 

Brier Hill ^ Brier Hill Coke Co. 

Buffington H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

Burchinal Smithfield Coal & Coke Co. 

Byrne Byrne Coal Co. 



290 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

30 Century Century Coke Co. 

402 Colonial No. '• Colonial Coke Co. 

49 Colonial No. 2 Colonial Coke Co. 

31 Colonial No. 3 Colonial Coke Co. 

90 Cyrilla Rocks Coal & Coke Co. 

140 Crystal Sackett Coal and Coke Co. 

. 200 Dilworth Dilworth Coal Co. 

240 Donald Southern Connellsville C & C Co 

100 E. Connellsville ...East Connellsville C & C Co. 

- 500 Edenborn H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

35 Edna O'Connell Coal & Coke Co. ' 

30 Emory Southern Fayette Coke Co. 

75 Ellsworth Ellsworth Coal & Coke Co. 

^ 400 Footedale H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

80 Fretts Southern Fayette Coke Co. 

459 Griffin Bessemer Coke Co. 

60 Hero Hero Coal & Coke Co. 

200 Hustead Hustead-Semans C & C Co. 

y 200 LaBelle LaBelle Coke Co. 

220 Lafayette Atlas Coke Co. 

- 432 Lambert H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

•516 Leckrone H. C. Frick Coke Co. 

400 Lincoln Lincoln Coal & Coke Co. 

232 Low Phos Connellsville Central Coke Co. 

■^185 Martin .Bessemer Coke Co. 

202 McKeefry McKeefry Coal Co. 

30 Newcomer Newcomer Coke Co. 

400 Orient Orient Coke Co. 

32 Parshall No. 1 . . . . Puritan Coke Co. 
100 Parshall No. 2 Puritan Coke Co. 

30 Perry Perry Coal & Coke Co. 

50 Plumer Plumer Coke Co. 

"^ 400 RepubHc Republic Iron & Steel Co. 

132 Rich Hill Rich Hill Coal & Coke Co. 

/500 Royal W. J. Rainey 

30 Sackett H. R. Sackett Coke Co. 

200 Shamrock Favette Coke Co. 



COAL AND COKE 291 



20 Smithfield Uniontown Coke Co. 

80 Solon Prospect Coal & Coke Co. 

-too Southern Southern Connellsville C & C Co 

160 Struthers Struthers Coal & Coke Co. 

150 Teresa Sunshine Coal & Coke Co. 

160 Taylor Taylor Coal & Coke Co. 

160 Virginia Masontown Coal & Coke Co. 

•- 325 Washington No. I.Washington Coal & Coke Co. 
" 441 Washington No 2. Washington Coal & Coke Co. 
" 300 Washington No. 3. Washington Coal & Coke Co. 
10,690 



CHAPTER IX. 

MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 

The first merchants of western Pennsylvania carried 
their stores about the country with them on the backs of 
their horses. They were the packers. And since the first 
permanent resident of Connellsville was one of these trav- 
ehng traders it will be seen that the town has been a busi- 
ness center from of yore. William McCormick, this pion- 
eer of the business world, was a resident of Winchester, 
Va., and, after making several trips to western Pennsyl- 
vania with his string of pack horses, came to the conclu- 
sion that Stewart's Crossing was the natural business cen- 
ter of the entire Yough region, took up two tracts of land 
on the Connellsville side of the river and built for himself 
a substantial log home. His log barn was built about one 
hundred yards back from the river and was a comfortable 
home for the faithful public carriers. At first he drove 
his string of horses to Hagerstown, Winchester and Bal- 
timore, where he found a ready market for the peltry and 
other western produce that he was able to gather up by trad- 
ing with the Indians and the early settlers. Later, when 
game became comparatively scarce, the eastern load was 
made up of rye whiskey, an equally marketable commodity. 
The western load was usually made up of salt and iron. 
There were no salt wells in this vicinity at that time. Iron 
ore was found in abundance in the Chestnut and Laurel 
mountain ranges, but no attempt was made to reduce it, and 
iron implements of every description had to be brought 
from the east by the packers. It was quite a profitable 
business. Tea, coffee, spices and other little things such as 
the house wife desired were also carried, but they made up 
a comparativelv small part of the load. The grocery stores 
of those days, with the solitary exception of the salt bag, 



MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 293 

were found in the gardens and fields. The shoe stores of 
the period were found to one side of the fire place of 
each cabin home where the man of the house in the fall 
of the year made his shoes and shoe packs from leather 
of his own tanning. The dry-goods establishments of 
the time were found in the flax patches which were found 
on every farm. The friendly flax supplied a score of 
needs. By the aid of the spinning wheel it furnished the 
clothing for the entire household. The finest of the pre- 
pared flax was used for sewing thread, the next grade for 
the bed linens and towelings, the next for ticking and 
coarse linen, while the coarsest of all was used as the chain 
for the weaving of the linsey woolsey out of which all 
kinds of wearing apparel were made. This home-spun 
was not as fine a grade of cloth as could be bought in the 
stores of Baltimore and other eastern cities, but it was 
considered good enough and was worn by all classes of 
people. To give some variety to their dress, the women 
soon learned to dye this material, red or blue or black to 
suit their tastes. The pack horses of the trader therefore 
were never overburdened with dry goods. 

During the busiest period, William ]\IcCormick was 
the owner of ten or twelve horses ; he also owned five 
negro slaves, some of whom worked with him on the road 
and others on the farm. About the year 1789, wagons 
began to take the place of the pack horses, and a new 
order of things was begun. The betterment of the public 
roads and the large increase in the population of the coun- 
try made it possible to establish permanent stores in the 
centers of trade. One of these natural trade centers was 
Connellsville. and Benjamin Wells, with his two sons, John 
and Charles, were its first merchants. Wells, on first com- 
ing to this part of the country, in 1790, located on the 
New Haven side of the river and entered the service of 
the Federal Government as an excise collector. This posi- 
tion, coupled with the man's natural stubbornness, made 
liim one of the most unpopular of men, and it seems strange 






A RECEIPT OF CALEB TREVOR 



MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 295 

that he ever succeeded in establishing himself in business 
at all. The "whiskey boys," who tried by threats to drive 
him out of the country, finally burned his house to the 
ground, July 11. 1794, and then, disgusted with the whiskey 
r)usiness, the collector bought a lot on Water street in 
Connellsville and erected a log house that served the double 
part of store room and dwelling. His two sons some- 
time after this removed to the west, but Mr. Wells con- 
tinued in business here until about the year 1830, though 
he never had much influence in public affairs. 

The first successful merchants of the town were the 
Trevor brothers, Samuel and Caleb, who established their 
business in a log house that stood on West Main street, 
nearly opposite the present Post Office. This store was 
a great improvement over the Water street establishment 
of Benjamin Wells, and the Trevors soon became wealthy 
and influential citizens. In the year 1808, they paid the 
heaviest taxes in the Borough. The exact date of their 
establishment here is hard to give, but it was probably in 
the spring of 1795. The court record shows that Samuel 
Trevor witnessed a deed of Zachariah Connell, executed 
July 9. 1795. The receipt of Caleb Trevor that is repro- 
duced on the accompanying page bears the date October 
9, 1795, and indicates that they had then been in business 
for some time. Another bill rendered by these pioneer 
merchants to Mrs. Shriver, of Dunbar township, in 1797, 
will furnish us with some idea of how business was done. 

Mrs. Shiver for Gaspar Hadi,ing 

BO'T OF S. AND C. TREVOR 

1797 / s d 

3rd July 3^ lb. of nails 5 1% 

1 lb. of tea 2 9>^ 

8 5 

By Cash 8 5 

lib. tea 6s. 7>^d. 

Cups, Plates, Indigo, Pins, Tea Pot, Ribbon, Tape, Snuff 

Amt. ■[£. 13s. 7>^d. 



296 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

In 1808 they built a good brick store room and dwell- 
ing on the corner of Main and Arch streets, where their 
business was successfully continued for a number of years. 
This building is still standing, but has been remodeled to 
such an extent in recent years and altered in appearance by 
the regrading of the street that it can scarcely be recog- 
nized as the old Trevor store. 

Caleb Trevor never married, but made his home with 
his brother. For a while he was associated with one of 
the Gibsons in the iron business, but never gave up his 
interest in the store. Samuel Trevor was one of the most 
capable and public-spirited men of his day. His name is 
associated with every important public movement in the 
town. It was chiefly due to his influence that the First 
Baptist church of Connellsville was, organized in 1796. 
He \-/as a man of versatile character and was twice elected 
to the State Legislature. He was the father of seven chil- 
dren, John B., Joseph, Caleb, Jr., Samuel J., Sarah, Mary 
and Susan. His eldest son, John B. Trevor, inherited the 
business ability of his father, serving as the local post- 
master for a number of years ; as State Treasurer from 
1820 to 1822, and as Prothonotary of Fayette county from 
1822 to 1824. He was the first cashier of the Connells- 
ville Navigation Company, the first banking institution 
established in the town, serving from 1816 to 1819, when 
he was succeeded by his brother, Caleb Trevor, Jr. Upon 
the death of the elder Trevors, (Samuel, dying July 26, 
1820, and Caleb, March 22, 1821), the store was conducted 
by the two youngest sons of Samuel Trevor, Samuel Jr., 
and Caleb Jr., under the name of the original firm. Sam- 
uel Jr., was a man of considerable popularity, the first 
captain of the Youghiogheny Blues, and was generally 
known as Captain Trevor. He married a daughter of 
Colonel Isaac Meason, Jr., and in 1829, removed to Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio. After his departure the store was conducted 
by his brother Caleb, until the year 1836, when he too 
removed to the west. It is said that Caleb's removal was 



MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 397 

due to the influence of his wife, a Philadelphia woman 
of considerable culture, who was never satisfied with his 
quiet home on the Yough. The last of the Trevors to leave 
the community was Doctor Joseph Trevor who practiced 
medicine in New Haven until 1867, when he removed to 
New York. For a number of years the Trevor store was 
the business center of the community. The town was not 
large, but the country people for miles around came here 
to do their trading. Butter and eggs, pork and poultry, 
wool and flax, wheat and corn and all kinds of country 
produce were received at the store. Nine-tenths of the 
business was done without the exchange of a single dol- 
lar. The produce was sometimes turned into cash bv sell- 
ing it to the furnace men, sometimes it was sent to the 
Pittsburgh markets. \'ery little silver money was in circu- 
lation, and much of the paper currency was of such a fluc- 
tuating value that business men did not care to handle it. 
In 1816 the Borough of Connellsville issued currency 
•of its own, but this was soon withdrawn. From 1816 to 
1831 the Connellsville Navigation Company took care of 
the mone}' market, but for the next forty years the town 
was without banking facilities of any kind. The third 
store established in Connellsville was that of Daniel 
Rogers, who began business in an old log house on South 
Water street in 1798. This store was convenient for the 
country people, who brought their wheat and corn to the 
old grist mill on the island, and was well patronized. In 
1806, Mr. Rogers built a substantial brick house on the 
corner of Main street, nearly opposite the entrance to the 
old wooden bridge across the Yough, and here he con- 
ducted a general store for a number of years. This prop- 
erty is now known as the Banning House and is the oldest 
lousiness block now standing in the town. Like all the 
other merchants of that period. Mr. Rogers did not give 
his entire time to the store. It was often allowed to run 
itself while he was busy with other things. For a while 
lie was engaged in the paper business in South Connells- 



298 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

ville ; later he gave his attention to cattle raising on his 
New Haven farm. His successor in business was Jacob 
Lobengier, who kept the store for a short time and was 
succeeded by William Lytle, who was the proprietor for 
two years. In 1828 the property changed hands and was 
converted into a tavern. From 1818 to 1820, Stewart H. 
Whitehill kept a little store where the Smith House now 
stands, but never did much business. It is said of him 
that he would frequently lock up his store on warm after- 
noons and go out to see the boys play ball. He was finally 
sold out by the sheriff. 

Lester L. Norton, the pioneer of the coke industry, 
kept a small store on West Main street for several years 
for the benefit of the workmen in his filling mill and foun- 
dry, but never made any attempt to build up a large gen- 
eral trade. James Nixon also had a small store on the 
same street several years earlier. 

Still another pioneer merchant was Elisha Clayton, 
who had a store where the First National Bank now 
stands. While he kept the store his two daughters, Mary 
and Harriet, carried on the millinery trade in a private 
room in the same house. So far as we can learn they 
were the pioneer milliners of the town. Mr. Clayton 
remained in business here up to the time of his death, in 
1836, when the store passed into the hands of his son-in- 
law, Crawford Vance, and when Mr. Vance gave it up 
in order to become the manager of the John T. Hogg 
bank, it was taken by Doctor Joseph Rogers, who ran it 
for two years and then went to Fayette furnace to engage 
in the iron business. 

When Caleb Trevor, Jr., retired from the brick store 
in 1836, he was succeeded by Thomas Ewing, who came 
here with his father from Uniontown Pa. About the year 
1845, they vacated this room and moved to a brick house 
that had been built by James Lafferty on the corner where 
the Title and Trust Building now stands. Here they con- 
ducted a general store for about five years, during which 




THK OLDEST BUSINESS BLOCK IN CONNELLSVILLE 

(Built in 1806) 



300 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

time their location was given a name that has not been 
-iaKi-otlen-to-this- day. and- is not- Hkely to be forgotten for 
_generations to come. The Ewings were great Democrats, 
and tne pohtical discussions that took place in their store 
room sometimes grew so hot and sulphurous that it was 
called "Brimstone corner" by the townspeople. At the 
time the name was treated as a political joke, but today no 
Connellsvillian thinks of using any other. 

The commanding figure in the business history of this 
early period, the man who succeeded in absorbing the 
larger part of the trade of the community and holding the 
same position in the popular esteem as the elder Trevors 
in previous years, was Alexander Johnston. Mr. Johnston 
was a native of Ireland who came to America at the age 
of nineteen. At first he located on Chartiers creek in 
Washington county; then he came to the Yough region. 
He had no settled home, but made Jones Mills, in West- 
jnoreland county, his lieadquarters, from which point he 
peddled dry goods all over this part of the country. Hi"; 
«'ood nature, strict integrity and Irish wit made for him 
hundreds of friends, and he was welcome in many homes. 
After a time he was able to save enough money to buy a 
horse and light wagon and did a larger business than 
ever. He would send out the word in advance — "Cheap 
Alex is coming with his big yard stick," and the people 
would wait for his coming. Being of quite a frugal dis- 
position he saved a considerable siim of money so that 
in 1810 he was able to buy a good brick property in Con- 
nellsville and open up a permanent stor-e. To the west 
of this brick building and on the same lot was a log house 
in which lived Daniel Hood with his large family of nine 
boys and one girl. One of these boys, A. W. Hood-- was 
taken into the Johnston home when he was only ten years 
of age and has given us a description of how business was 
done in the Johnston store. The store room was rather 
narrow, with shelves along the wall on both sides, admit- 
ting but one lone counter. All the sfoods were brouo:ht 



MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 301 

by teamsters from Philadelphia and Baltimore, whose 
large wagons with six horses would easily haul a hundred 
cwt. at a time. Among those who were engaged in this 
business at that time were Presley Whaiey, Charles 
Walker, Jacob and George Buttermore. The speed of 
these big road teams was about fifteen miles a day, and 
two months were generally allowed for a trip from Con- 
nellsville to Baltimore and return. Mr. Johnston never 
kept a very large stock of goods in the store, perhaps never 
more than two thousand dollars" worth at one time. Three 
barrels of brown sugar and two bags of green coffee was 
considered a large invoice even of those staples. Fre- 
quently the stock of these things would run low, and then 
no one would be allowed to buy more than two or three 
pounds of each. Mr. Johnston usually made two trips to 
Philadelphia every year himself, to select goods for the 
store, making the journey on horseback. By having his 
horse shod on Saturday and taking an early start on Mon- 
day morning he could usually get to Philadelphia before 
the following Sunday and not be absent more than fifteen 
days on the trip. The money for the purchase of the goods 
was usually carried in the saddle bags. Profiting b}' his 
experience as a peddler, Mr. Johnston kept a team of his 
own and sometimes two out on the road trading with the 
country people. This kept the people in close touch with 
the store and built up trade. Sometimes the driver would 
do more business in a day on the wagon than the men in 
the store, but he never handled very much money. The 
team would leave the store in the morning with sugar, 
coffee, tea, calico and such things, some of which may 
have been ordered a day or two before, and come back in 
the evening without a dollar, but laden with butter and 
eggs, chickens and ducks and all kinds of country pro- 
duce. But the merchant was perfectlv satisfied, for he 
expected to make a profit on his goods as well as on the 
produce. Even in ' the store very little cash money was 
handled, and when there was six or eight dollars in, the 



303 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

cash drawer at the close of a days' business it was con- 
sidered very good. The larger part of this money was 
silver coin in the form of "levies" and "fippeny bits." 
Yough Bridge tickets were used as money for a number 
of years, circulating at their face value. Eggs were re- 
ceived at 3 cents a dozen, butter at 8 cents and dressed 
pork at 3 cents a pound. In the fall of the year great 
quantities of fresh pork, much of it in the form of stuffed 
sausage, would be received. This usually found a ready 
market among the furnace men. Much of the butter re- 
ceived was kegged and sent to Baltimore. A great deal of 
corn was received in trade, which was sold to the drove 
stands along the pike. The store was usually opened up 
about seven o'clock in the morning and kept open until 
nine o'clock at night. In the evening light was furnished 
by tallow candles, which stood on the counter. Few clerks 
were needed, Mr. Johnston and a boy usually taking care 
of the store. At meal time, all went to the dining-room 
together, and the door was left open so that customers who 
were in a hurry could make their wants known. At the 
beginning of his business career, Mr. Johnston sold whis- 
key over his counter at 25 cents a gallon, and frequently 
invited his customers to help themselves to the contents 
of the little brown jug, but in later years he became quite 
an ardent temperance man and the whiskey was put out. 
He was a man of strong character, one of the charter mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian church of Connellsville, and for 
a while paid one-half of the minister's salary. The older 
•citizens still speak in glowing terms of his ardent patriotism 
during the Civil war. A war meeting was held in the 
Presbyterian church in 1862 at which he presided, and the 
young men of the community cheered him to the echo. 
He was married in 1812 to Miss Margaret Clark of Dunbar 
township, and was the father of six children — Joseph, 
William C, John R., Elizabeth (Mrs. Dr. Joseph Rogers), 
Nancy (Mrs. James Blackstone), and Margaret (Mrs. 
Daniel R. Davidson). In 18^6, he retired from business 




THE OLD FRISBEE STORE 



30-1: CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



and the management of the store was assumed by his eldest 
son, Joseph, who also retired in 1858. 

In November, 1861, a new figure entered the business 
arena of Connellsville. who was to exert an even wider 
influence than Alexander Johnston. This was John D. 
Frisbee, who already had four years of experience in mer- 
chandizing among the gold seekers of California. The 
retirement of Joseph Johnston left a splendid business 
opening for an energetic young man, and Mr. Frisbee 
was quick to take advantage of it. In partnership with 
William Cooper and Co., wholesale grocers of Pittsburgh, 
he opened up the store, December 11, 1861, under the firm 
name of Frisbee, Cooper and Co. In 1865, Joseph John- 
ston was taken into-; the company, and the firm name be- 
came Frisbee, Johnston and Co. At the end of five years 
Mr. Johnston retired and the firm resumed its original 
name. From 1880 to 1897 the store was run under the 
name of John D. Frisbee, when general merchandizing 
was discontinued and the Frisbee Hardware Company 
organized. Mr. Frisbee, at the beginning of his business 
career, adopted; a number of the policies of the Johnston 
store and by sheer energy made them productive of wealth. 
He established rural routes and sent out his store wagons 
in all directions. For a long time he kept two teams on 
the road, one following a route north of the river, the 
other to the south. Both teams required two full days 
to make their round trip. In a few years the name of John 
D. Frisbee was known far and wide. Several men from 
Somerset county, working independently, brought regu- 
larly large quantities of country produce to the Frisbee 
store. The store never did much, advertising, for the 
wagons alone were the best of advertisers. These teams,, 
in the course of a week, would gather in an enormous- 
quantity of country produce, a single wagon sometimes 
bringing in more than six hundred dozen of eggs at one 
time. As the town grew in size the local demand for this 
produce became greater. The housewives soon learned to- 



MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 305 

know the fine quality of the Pennsylvania Dutch butter 
that was brought in by the Somerset county wagons, and 
frequently there would be more than fifty dinner plates in 
the store, each one bearing a slip of paper marked with 
the name of the owner, waiting for a print of Somerset 
county butter. All the various kinds of produce gathered up 
by the Johnston wagons were also brought into the Frisbee 
ware rooms and prepared for the market. In addition to 
these, old rags, shingles, cooper stuff, locust posts and lum- 
ber of various kinds were received in trade. Sometimes 
there would be tons of these old rags stored up in the ware- 
house awaiting shipment. The lot on the northwest corner 
of Pittsburgh and Alain streets was then owned by Mr. 
Frisbee, and on the rear end of this the lumber received 
in trade was stored until it could be sold. For a number 
of years the Frisbee store was the leading business house 
in all this section of country. It was divided into five 
apartments, and required from twelve to fifteen employees 
for its operation. The hours of business were from seven 
in the morning to ten at night, and there was but little 
wasted time. A bookkeeper was employed all the time, 
for a large credit business was done, especially with the 
farming people to whom a credit of six and eight months 
was frequently given. The first clerks employed by the 
store were, A. W. Hood and W. S. Hood, two brothers, 
whose experience in the Johnston store enabled them to 
render quite valuable service. Among the many employees 
of this store, in addition to the two above named, were 
J. C. Stimmell, Henry Wagner, Clem Woods, Clark Mc- 
Guire, Robert Galloway, James Green, Samuel R. Long, 
Hiram Herbert, Joseph Herbert, W. E. Barnett, Clarence 
Morton, William Eccles, Samuel Zimmerman. James 
Hazen, Cash Malcolm, James Barnett, Judson Ritchey, 
Alonzo Norton, W. H. Soisson, Walker E. Francis, Wil- 
liam F. Soisson, Abe Stouffer, Arkie Murrie, John Shal- 
lenberger, S. E. Frock, Amzi Nichol, Grant Nichol, Wal- 
ter Burchinal, Albert Smith, John A. Green, Herman 



306 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Englehart, John Hair, Robert Grim. Samuel Drew, Wil- 
liam Stetson, Harry Jennings, Wilson Hamilton, John 
Dickson, Edward Turner, McLain Crossland, Joseph 
Meyerchak, Robert Sydow, James Nelson, Daniel Wilhelm, 
Edward Lyons, Charles Clark, Harry Seaton. A. D. New- 
ell, John Halloway, Byron Porter, Thomas Mahan, George 
Reed, Robert Halloway, George Freed, Herman Otto, Her- 
bert C. Frisbee, Albert Vance, Lee Snyder, and Misses Sadie 
Port, Laura Robbins, Blanche Robbins, Emma Cunningham, 
Maggie Thomas, Sarah Levine, Mary Herbert, Emma Fris- 
bee, Annie Egan, Sarah Quinn, Elizabeth White, Sue White 
and Katie Guiler. 

Mr. Frisbee did all his own buying and frequently 
made four trips a year to Philadelphia and New York for 
this purpose. For a while Miss Emma Frisbee, his daugh- 
ter, accompanied him and assisted in the selection of the 
dry goods. Traveling salesmen were unknown in the busi- 
ness world of 1860, and every merchant was required to 
select his own stock. 

Mr. Frisbee has taken an active interest in a num- 
ber of other affairs, was one of the prime movers in the 
organization of the First National Bank, in 1876, was 
elected as its first president and has held the position ever 
since. He is one of the central figures in the business 
history of the town. 

Nearly all the general stores of fifty years ago 
carried a limited stock of drugs and patent medi- 
cines, but of course made no pretension of com- 
pounding prescriptions or doing a regular drug business. 
The pioneer druggist of the town was Ebenezer Smith, who 
started in business about the year 1828 in a room on the 
corner of Meadow alley and Main street. He was a phar- 
macist of the old school, made all his own pills and other 
preparations from the raw materials, mixed and sold great 
quantities of horse powders, and compounded medicines 
of almost every description for the healing of both man and 
beast. His successors at the same stand were David S. 
Knox, Michael Lore and John Scott, who found it profitable 
to add a full line of dry goods and groceries to their stock. 



MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 307 

D. S. Knox was the druggist who began the manufacture 
of McClane's Liver Pills, after the formula of Dr. Charles 
McClane, a local physician. These three men were in part- 
nership under the firm name of Scott, Knox and Lore in 
1832, when Noble C. McCormick bought out their stock 
and established himself in business in a frame building that 
stood on the corner now occupied by the Second National 
Bank. About the year 1858, Mr. McCormick removed his 
stock to the adjoining building, and his son-in-law, James 
N. Walker, kept a drug store in the old corner building 
from 1858 to 1877, when he removed to the West. In 1865 
Harry C. McCormick, son of Noble McCormick, entered 
the drug business, buying out the store of William McCray 
in the old Herbert building. In 1867 he became a partner 
in the firm of Noble C. McCormick and Company in general 
merchandise. On November 10, 1876, he secured full con- 
trol of the store, sold out the dry goods and groceries at 
public auction and kept only the drugs, in which position 
he remained until 1901, when he sold the property to F. A. 
Kail and removed to Rockwood, Pa. 

Another of the early druggists of the community was 
Provance McCormick, a great-grandson of Colonel William 
Crawford. Mr. McCormick was a carpenter by trade, but, 
having been injured, looked about for another calling and 
concluded that he would undertake the drug business. No- 
ticing an advertisement of a McKeesport druggist offering 
his stock and fixtures for sale, he bought them and opened 
up the store in company with his son, Joseph T. McCormick, 
in his property on Water street. The firm was known as 
P. McCormick and Son, and remained in business from 
1852 to 1875. On February 27, 1866, Joseph T. McCor- 
mick purchased an interest in the McGrath and Winslow 
car shops, but still kept the drug store and there did all his 
clerical work. Their successor was C. N. Boyd, who 
kept the store from 1876 to 1879, and then sold out 
to J. C. Moore, who has been in business at the old 
stand ever since. 



308 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Another of our veteran druggists is Frank Huston, 
who came to Connellsville in 1871, and opened up his store 
in the room he stih occupies. His brother, the late Henry 
C. Huston, came with him, and occupied one-half of the 
store room with men's clothing. An examination of the old 
prescription files of this store shows that Mr. Huston did a 
large prescription business, the local physicians at that time 
having quite generally given up the practice of compound- 
ing their own medicines. In this store the first plate-glass 
front of Connellsville was established, and for some time 
was quite an object of curiosity. During the last fifteen 
years the methods of conducting the drug business have 
greatly changed. It is no longer possible for carpenters to 
give up their trade and go to work selling drugs. Only 
thoroughl}^ qualified men are admitted to the profession 
under the law, and the local pharmacies have been advanced 
to the highest standard. Among those who have engaged 
in the drug business here, in addition to those whose names 
have already been mentioned, we note the following: Eli 
C. Suter, George Booher, Doctor Morrison, Webb Baer, 
Homer Hargrave, F. E. Markell and Brother, H. P. Berry- 
hill, Albert Evans, A. A. Clarke, Graham and Newcomer, 
Keaggy Brothers and H. A. Barclay. 

The pioneer silversmith of the town was Robert Mc- 
Guire, whose bright eyes and eagle-like countenance are yet 
vividly recalled by our older business men. His chief occu- 
pation was the manufacture of silver spoons, in which art 
he was an adept. These spoons were usually made out of 
Spanish silver dollars and were sold at $2.50 each. 

Another of these early silversmiths was John Wood- 
cock, some of whose handiwork can still be seen in the 
homes of the older families of town. 

About the year 1834 a clock-maker by the name of 
Jacob Conrad located here, but remained only a short time. 
The first regular jewelry store was opened by Alexan- 
der B. Morton, in June, 1845. He was a native of Scotland 
and a skilled workman, having served a full apprenticeship 




SOUTH PITTSBURGH STREET IN 1855 



310 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

of seven years in order to learn his trade. When he came 
to Connellsville, Alexander Johnston said to him: "Mr. 
Morton, you're the verra mon we want. Stay with us." 
And Mr. Morton stayed. He started up in a little room on 
the corner of Meadow alley and Main street. He did all 
kinds of fine repairing, and also kept a fair stock of watches, 
clocks, jewelry, musical instruments and notions of various 
kinds, buying his goods in New York City. In 1846 he 
moved into the Trevor building, on the corner of Arch 
street, where he remained until 1851, when he purchased 
the building now occupied by Davidson's grocery from 
Alexander Johnston, remodeled the lower story for business 
purposes and lived with his family in the other part. Here 
he remained until 1887, when he sold out to A. W. Bishop, 
the present occupant. Like all the other merchants of that 
day, Mr. Morton was compelled to accept wheat, corn and 
other country produce in lieu of cash. Some of his clock 
trades now seem quite amusing. 

The first year after he located here, another jewelry 
store was started by Jacob Stahl, but he only remained 
about two years. For a number of years he was the only 
jeweler in the town. E. V. Goodchild and Charles H. Ways 
were his first real competitors, and they did not go into 
business until in the seventies. 

C. M. Hyatt entered the field in 1882, and Mr. Morton 
was then almost ready to retire. A partial list of the other 
jewelers of the town's history is as follows: Mrs. C. H. 
Ways, C. L. Clark, Mrs. C. L. Clark, Jacob Strouse, Charles 
.Matthias, Sylvester Coyle, C. T. Giles, A. B. Kurtz, Wil- 
liam Herzberg and Messrs. Whitsett, Smith, Ross, New- 
comer and Nesbit. 

In early days the shoe business was altogether in the 
hands of the shoemakers. Factory-made shoes were almost 
unknown until about the year 1859. Connellsville people 
seemed to take quite naturally to shoe making, and made 
the greater portion of the boots and shoes of the Yough 
region. In the year mentioned, John D. Boyle, of Union- 




THE JOHN K. BROWN SHOE SHOP AND HOME 

East Main Street 



312 CEXTENXIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

town, Opened up a shoe store on East Main street, with 
Tliomas M. Fee as manager, in which he offered factory- 
made shoes for sale at prices so much lower than those 
offered by the local shoemakers as to bring about a revolu- 
tion in the shoe business. The shoemakers seemed to real- 
ize that their trade was gone and there was quite a scramble 
to adjust themselves to the new conditions. The large num- 
ber of shoemakers who enlisted in the army in 1861 and 
1862 may be partly accounted for in this way. John D. 
Boyle, the man who started this little business ferment, 
kept the store but a few months, when he sold out to Joseph 
M. Lytic, who gave Mr. Fee an interest in it and retained 
him as manager. They kept the factory-made shoes and 
also employed a number of local shoemakers to work for 
them, among whom may be mentioned John K. Brown, 
Hugh L. Cameron, William H. Shaw, George O'Brien, 
Thomas Moreland and Jacob Wible. In 1864 the stock 
was sold to Mrs. Elizabeth McBride, who opened up a store 
on West Main street. When Thomas M. Fee returned from 
the war he went into business for himself in a little basement 
room on East Main street, where Rockwell Marietta now 
lives, that had been occupied for a number of years b}- 
"Auntie Hare," with her tempting stock of candies, cookies, 
hot gingerbread and home-brewed beer. Here he remained 
until his growing business compelled him to move to a 
larger room farther up the street. In addition to the shoes 
he also kept a full line of trunks and hats. Twice every 
year he was compelled to make the trip to New York and 
Boston in order to replenish his stock. He retired from 
business in 1870. 

Among the shoemakers who felt the competition of 
the eastern factories most sharply were Aaron Bishop and 
his two brothers, George and John. Stephen Bishop, the 
father of these three boys, had settled in Connellsville on 
Trump run at a very early date and the boys had all learned 
the shoemaking trade when quite young. Aaron had his 
shop where "The News" now has its ofhce, and here, about 



MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 'Sl'6 

1861, he laid in a stock of the factory-made shoes. As a 
matter of business poHcy he sold the factory shoes only 
when compelled to do so, claiming that it would take two 
pairs of them to outwear one pair made at his bench. Many 
people agreed with him and said that the factory shoes 
could never be made to fit properly, but in spite of every- 
thing more and more of them were sold. The low price 
won the day. Mr. Bishop, yielding to the inevitable, came 
down the hill in 1879, entered into partnership with Lloyd 
Johnson, and established the shoe store of Bishop and John- 
son, adjoining Brimstone corner. In the spring of 1880, 
Robert Norris, then a young man, started to work for them 
as a clerk, and rendered such efficient service tiiat in 1883 
he becamic a member of the firm of Bishop, Johnson and 
Norris. In 188T the firm was changed to Johnson and 
Norris. and again in 1900 to Norris and Hooper. 

One of the most successful pioneer shoe men was 
Lewis A. \\'etherell. He was born in Athol, Aiass., in 1812, 
and came to Connellsviile in 1850. A few months after his 
coming he formed, with two other eastern men, a partnership 
known as Aialindy, Davis and Wetherell. They purchased 
a lot lacing G(j feet on ]\Iain street and 165 feet on North 
l^itts burgh street, on the corner of which stood a two-storv 
brick dwelling house, for about $1200. In this building 
the firm opened up its business ; but a few months after 
starting, Air. Davis died and then Air. Alalindy wanted to 
dissolve the partnership. Air. Wetherell bought the 
interest of both men in the firm and carried on the business 
alone. He started by employing a few shoemakers in the 
brick building, but business soon increased under his skillful 
management to such an extent that he was compelled to 
build a special workshop adjoining the brick building on 
the east. It was a two-story building, modeled after the 
eastern factories, with ever}- convenience for the accommo- 
dation of the workmen. In this shop he employed at times 
from twenty-five to thirty-five men. In addition to these he 
employed quite a number of women around the town as 



314 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVTLLE 

binders and finishers. A large part of the shoe business in 
those days was done in the fall of the year. At that time 
every man bought a pair of good boots, expecting to make 
them last for a full year. Often the country people would 
come in by families, each one being measured for a pair of 
boots or shoes, as the choice might be. The former gener- 
ally had the first choice, even among the women. When the 
order was finished and the father of the house called to take 
them home, it is said that he furnished a good illustration 
of a traveling shoe store. For a while there were quite a 
number of peripatetic shoemakers, who roamed about the 
country, boarding with the people for whom they worked 
until they had made a pair of shoes for each member of the 
family. When J. D. Boyle introduced the factory-made 
shoes to the trade, Mr. Wetherell was quick to see the 
results. About the year 1861 he formed a partnership with 
his brother-in-law, Willard B. Drury, of Worcester, Mass., 
in order to handle the new style of footwear. Two stores 
were opened in western Pennsylvania, one in Greensburg 
under the management of Mr. Drury, and the other in Con- 
nellsville under the care of Mr. Wetherell. This partnership 
was dissolved four years later, when the stock of the Greens- 
burg store was removed to Connellsville. Mr. Wetherell 
remained in the shoe business here until 1874, when he sold 
out and retired. He died in Connellsville, November 16, 
1881. 

One of his strong New England traits was a love for 
the beautiful. His large, well-kept yard on North Pitts- 
burgh street, extending all the way from the corner building 
to Orchard alley, with its beautiful green banks, rich flower 
beds, and fine fruit trees, is still remembered as one of 
the beauty spots of the Connellsville of 1860. Every inch 
of this ground is now occupied by business blocks. A. A. 
Wetherell, son of the pioneer, had a shoe store in the corner 
building for a number of years. 

Other pioneers of the shoe trade in Connellsville 
were David Blackburn, who opened a store in 1868, 



MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 315 

and continued until 187G, John Rutherford, who kept 
a store in the Kilpatrick block from 1871 to 187-1,. 
and Richard S. Paine, son of a veteran shoemaker, who 
started in business in 1875, and conducted a very success- 
full store for twenty-four years, when he sold out to Mitch- 
ener and Hormel. Among the other shoe firms of the town 
we note the names of J. S. Shively, R. M. Sibbett, Richard 
Campbell, J. C. Lytle, Lytle and Soisson, James N. Frew, 
son, Donnelly and Irwin, John Irwin, W. C. Downs and 
Gorman and Co. After the year 1865 most of the gen- 
eral stores kept a full line of shoes. The large department 
stores have also claimed a share of the trade. 

Another branch of trade that has passed through 
changes very similar to those of the shoe business is that 
of men's clothing. In early days this business was entirely 
in the hands of the tailors. The first man to bring the 
factory-made clothing to town was Gustavus Bash, a Jewish 
peddler, who came here in 1853 and opened up a store in the 
old Page House on East Main street. Bash had been a ped- 
dler in France and Switzerland before coming to this coun- 
try, and then carried a pack through western Pennsylvania 
for several years before settling down in business in Con- 
nellsville. He was a man of considerable intelligence and 
good humor, and did quite a successful business, yet he was 
a true son of Israel and drove many shrewd bargains with 
the country folk who brought him all kinds of country pro- 
duce for exchange. Many interesting stories are told of his 
business experiences. As an expert trader he rarely got 
the short end of any kind of a deal. After a few years he 
removed his store from the Page House to an old frame 
building on the opposite side of the street, and later to the 
Wilkey building, where he did a large business. In 1868 
Henry Goldsmith came to Connellsville and started to work 
for Mr. Bash, but in 1870 started up in business for himself. 
With characteristic enterprise he painted the front of his 
itore in stripes and called it the "Red, White and Blue" to 
ittract attention. In 1876 he gave to his store the name of 
Oak Hall. He was one of the most successful early mer- 



316 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

chants of town, remaining in business until 1897, when he 
retired in favor of Goldsmith Brothers. For several years 
Mr. Bash was the only dealer in ready-made clothing in 
town. Many people regarded the factory goods as decidedly 
inferior, and stuck to the merchant tailors. About the year 
1860, Henry Heffley came to Connellsville and established 
himself in the tailoring business in the Reisinger building, 
keeping a small line of ready-made clothing at the same 
time. In 1868, Marcus Goldsmith started up in business 
in the Newcomer building. In 1879 he sold out and started 
to work for Henry Goldsmith. 

Another early clothier was Jacob Reffner, who kept 
a store on Brimstone corner. About the year 1874 no less 
than sixteen of the local merchants kept more or less ready- 
made clothing for sale. During the panic this number was 
reduced to four or five. 

H. C. Horner, father of E. W. Horner, entered the 
merchant tailoring business here in 1877. His first shop 
was on North Pittsburgh street, where Scott's grocery is 
now located. When he came here the tailoring business 
was chiefly in the hands of Samuel Cox and Henry Heffley. 
The latter was very much put out because of his coming, 
and issued a circular letter in which he warned the public 
not to give the new comer any of their patronage. This 
was the best kind of an advertisement for Mr. Horner, who 
took the matter good-naturedly, and, being something of 
a wit himself, issued a reply in the form of a jocular poem, 
signed Hans Hogelspitzen, the first verse of which read as 
follows : 

"Now you know dot naughty old tailor 
.So talk about mine peezness und sich 
Und says to der peebles all round here 

Dot me noddings don't know how to stich." 

The result of the incident was a windfall of trade for 
Mr. Horner, and he had a thriving business for a number 
of vears. His son, E. W. Horner, succeeded him in busi- 



MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 317 

ness in 1891, and in 1895 formed a partnership with J. W. 
McClaren which continned until 1901, when Mr. McClaren 
purchased the entire control of the store. Some time later 
Mr. Horner again established himself in business in the 
Marietta block, where he still conducts a general men's 
clothing and furnishing store. 

About the year 1880, a Jewish lad not more than thir- 
teen years of age began to carry a pack through the coke 
region, selling dry goods and clothing. In spite of his youth 
and inexperience he had a good trade, and, on New Year's 
Day, 1888, opened up a store of his own in Connellsville. 
The boy was Sam Goodman. He had natural business 
qualifications, was quite a strong advertiser, and in a short 
time occupied three rooms with his business. In 1896 he 
removed his store to the Newcomer building on North 
Pittsburgh street. A partial list of the merchant tailors and 
clothiers of Connellsville whose names have not already 
been mentioned, is as follows : Henry Weihe, Morris Ko- 
backer, Reuben Miller, John F. Norcross, Charles Norcross, 
C. A. Pool, D. Cohen, Levinson and Cohen, Harry Mervis, 
Max Tumpson, Jacob and Samuel Kinsburski, Henry Hus- 
ton, Clabaugh Brothers, H. J. Boslett, J. R. Nelson, H. E. 
Penn, Harry Victor, William Herzberg, P. Bellano and L. 
Ruttenberg. The large department stores also carry a full 
line of men's clothing. 

The first photographer of town was Byron Porter, who' 
established his business in 1869. 

The first baker was William Templeton, a Scotchman, 
followed by John Weller, Conrad Hoop, Hamilton Graham, 
Edward White and others. 

The first butcher was Elijah Crossland, who found such 
a light demand for fresh meat in the town in 1806 that he 
made and sold wooden plows as a side line. Frederick 
Bierer, a German, succeeded Mr. Crossland, and did a good 
business. Valentine Coughanour, George McCormick, Wil- 
liam McCue and John Hetzel Sr. were other pioneers of the 
trade. Up to the time of building the first City Hall, the 



318 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

meat business was carried on in the old Market House on 
the corner of Pittsburgh and Main streets, after that it was 
done in private shops. 

The first man to give his entire attention to the hard- 
ware business was Joshua M. Dushane. As a boy in his 
Westmoreland county home, Mr. Dushane was impressed 
with the cook stove business, believing that he could make 
his fortune in it. He picked out Connellsville as an ideal 
business center, and, coming here in 1850, started up a store 
in the old log house that had been built by the Trevors. He 
sold cook stoves and a general line of hardware, and en- 
gaged also in the tinning business, sometimes employing 
four or five men. His principal tinners were James Robb 
and Samuel Kurtz. He remained in this business until 1858, 
when he sold out to Samuel Kurtz and went to Somerset. 
The outbreak of the war spoiled all his business plans, and, 
in the summer of 1862, he returned to Connellsville, raised 
a full company of men in six days, and marched to the 
front. Taken prisoner at the battle of Gettysburg, he was 
reduced to a physical wreck in southern prison pens, and for 
several years after the war was not able to re-engage active- 
ly in business. Five or six years were spent in the revenue 
service. In May, 1872, he purchased the interest of Forrey 
and Reisinger in the firm of Francis, Forrey and Reisinger, 
which had been established in 1864, and conducted a general 
store for twelve years under the firm name' of Francis and 
Dushane. He then retired from active business life. 

Another pioneer hardware man was J. D. Stillwagon, 
a Connellsville man by birth and training, who kept a store 
on Brimstone corner for more than twenty years. After Mr. 
Dushane's first retirement in 1858, Samuel Kurtz was the 
town's tinner until 1864 ; then in 1867 . Mr. Stillwagon 
started up in business. About the same time, in company 
with Captain Lloyd Johnson, he purchased this valuable 
corner lot for $1,800 from John D. Frisbee. One-half of 
it could not be purchased to-day for less than $50,000. Upon 
the rear of this lot, fronting on North Pittsburgh street. 



MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 319 

Mr. Stillwagon erected what was then considered a fine 
brick dwelhng house. This corner hardware store, for a 
number of years, was headquarters for Democratic news. 
In the evening, after the mail came in, all the old Democratic 
war horses of the town would gather in the store and listen 
to Mr. Stillwagon reading the Pittsburgh Post in his inimi- 
table way. During election times his store was always 
crowded in the evenings. He was quite a humorist, and his 
salt river tickets and funny papers are still vividly remem- 
bered. He retired from business a few years before his 
death, which occurred June 8, 1893. 

Other firms who have engaged in the hardware busi- 
ness here are : J. R. Balsley, Fayette Lumber Company, J. 
B. Skinner (the pioneer plumber), Munson Brothers, Tur- 
ner Hardware Company, Frisbee Hardware Company, 
Schell Hardware Company and the Hoop Hardware Com- 
pany. 

The grocery business of the town from the beginning 
was in the hands of the general merchants. The first man to 
give his attention exclusively to high-class groceries was 
Captain Edmund Dunn, who came to Connellsville in 1873 
and opened up an attractive store on East Main street, in 
partnership with P. J. Stouffer. In 1874 he removed to the 
Odd Fellows' building and conducted the store under his 
own name. In 1881 N. B. Harding became a partner, and 
a full line of dry goods was added to the stock. In 1884 
this partnership was dissolved and the store removed to the 
Newcomer building. In 1894 the groceries were sold out, 
and the store given up exclusively to dry goods, carpets, etc. 
In 1897 the store was removed to the commodious rooms of 
the Dunn-Paine building, on the east side of the street, 
where it still remains. 

Harry Dunn entered the store as a clerk in 1890, and, 
in spite of many flattering offers, has stuck to his post and 
done much to make the Dunn store the splendid emporium 
of high-class goods that it now is. 

Another veteran merchant, now retired, is A. W. Hood. 



320 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

who has spent his life in Connellsville. His early experi- 
ence was received in the Johnston store ; later he worked 
for seventeen years in the store of John D. Frisbee. In 
1882 he established a general store in the Casino building, 
under the firm name of Hood Brothers and Company, the 
members of the firm being A. W. Hood, W. S. Hood and 
P. S. Newmyer. In 189U this partnership was dissolved,. 
A. W. Hood retaining the dry goods and continuing in busi- 
ness until 1896, when he retired. His brother retained the 
groceries and remained in business at the same place until 
1896. 

Another of the older grocery men of town is J. V. 
Percy, who started a general store on the corner of Pros- 
pect and Main streets in 1865. It was he who started the 
movement of business away from the West Main street cen- 
ter ; it is claimed also that he was the first man to establish 
a local delivery wagon. 

The first grocery store of the South Side was started 
by Mrs. James Darr (Mrs. Anna Clark) ; the pioneer grocer 
of the Pinnacle district was Peter Martin. To give a full 
list of the retail grocers who have been in business in Con- 
nellsville during all these years would be quite difficult, 
inasmuch as many of them were here for but a very short 
time. A partial list, omitting those whose names are men- 
tioned elsewhere, is as follows : Adam Armstrong, John 
Rigley, John Porter, J. B. Skinner, James A. Zimmerman,. 
Swartz welder and Miller, Mrs. S. A. Marietta, Sembower 
and Wortman, J. M. Sembower, J. R. Wortman, John 
Davidson, Jr., S. A. Davidson, M. J. Davidson, George W. 
Brickmann Company, W. R. Scott, J. M. Herpick, H. J.. 
Wells, John Campbell, F. B. Luteman, W. H. Showman, 
J. H. Hoover, D. J. Hoover, A. M. Lyons, Charles Echard,. 
James Nickelson, Strickler Stacy, F. C. Rose, Rose and Her- 
rington, Nickelson and Edenbo, Daniel Sinclair, J. E. Col- 
Hns, Clarence Stillwagon, Berg Brothers, W. H. Friend, J. 
A. Rankin, Patrick May, Nicolay and May, Asa Steyer,. 
Michael Rendine, Mrs. J. N. Trump, H. M. Powell, R. B. 




A MODERN BUSINESS BLOCK 



332 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Shaw, Keagy Brothers, Paul Beighley, J. E. Palmer, J. S. 
Patterson, Hileman and Richter, J. M. Young, B. F. Ru- 
dolph, George Hileman, John T. Kooser, A. Gigliotti, Italo- 
American Grocery Company. 

The wholesale grocery business was established in Con- 
nellsville in January, 1898, when Robert Felty and others 
organized the Connellsville Grocery Company. Doyle, Brill 
and Company, wholesale confections, etc., were established 
in 1893 ; Bixler and Company in 1906. The wholesale fruit 
and produce business is in the hands of F. T. Adams. R. J. 
Welsh and L. Raimondio. The first 5- and 10-cent store in 
town was established by Abe May in the Soisson building. 
His successor was C. C. Crill, who in turn sold out to D. K. 
Artman in 1887, who has carried on the business ever since. 

It is difficult to give a complete list of the notion mer- 
chants of town, since nearly all of the larger stores keep 
some lines of these goods, and the trade cannot be classified. 

The first furniture stores of Connellsville were found 
in the cabinet-maker shops, of which there were quite a 
number. Some of these cabinet makers were carpenters, 
who naturally drifted into the furniture-making business 
because of their skill in fine wood work. Among the best 
chair-makers of early days were John Turner, Moses Mc- 
Cormick, Andrew Stillwagon and Thomas Boley. John W. 
Phillips, son-in-law of Zachariah Connell, was a cabinet 
maker, and employed a number of workmen in his shop on 
lower Fairview avenue. Matthew Seaton and George W. 
Herbert were the men who made the coffins and took care 
of the undertaking. 

About the year 1872, Thomas Porter and his brother 
opened an undertaker's establishment on West Main street. 
Little by little, as the demand for it increased, they added 
a large stock of factory made furniture, and the business 
of the cabinet makers soon came to an end. This store after 
a time passed into the hands of Samuel Porter, a brother 
of Thomas. For a number of years the Porters enjoyed a 
monopoly of the furniture business in the community. Their 



MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 323 

first local competitors were G. B. Conn and Thomas W. 
Morris, who opened undertaking rooms on the corner of 
North Pittsburgh and Peach streets, about the year 1879, 
under the firm name of G. B. Conn and Company. Three 
years later this partnership was dissolved ; Mr. Morris took 
the business into his own hands and added a full line of 
furniture. After the death of Mr. Morris, which occurred 
in July, 1890, G. C. Armstrong. L. L. West and Mrs. Morris 
each took a third interest in the business and carried it on 
as Morris and Company. J. E. Sims became the practical 
undertaker of this firm in 1893, succeeding W. H. Barnes, 
and held the position until 1902, when he went into business 
for himself. In 1903 the partnership of West and Sidersky 
was formed, handling furniture alone, which continued for 
about a year, when J. E. Sidersky took the business into 
his own hands. Morris and Company still continue the un- 
dertaking with Charles C. ^Mitchell as their director. 

In 1892, J. B. Stader came to Connellsville from Lat- 
robe, and opened up a furniture and undertaking business 
in the room adjoining the Yough House. In 1894 he ac- 
cepted a position with the firm of Samuel Porter, and a 
year later purchased the undertaking part of the business 
for himself, the furniture being bought by the Standard 
Furniture Company. Mr. Strader then stocked his store 
with new furniture but in 189T sold it out and kept the un- 
dertaking alone. The large furniture house of B. P. Wal- 
lace was established in 1899. 

From 1895 to 1899 Mr. Wallace had been in the piano 
business in New Haven, but on coming to Connellsville 
soon enlarged his store to its present proportions. The 
Rosenblum Furniture Company started in business in a 
modest way in the Odd Fellows' building in 189-i, under the 
firm name of Rosenblum and Silverman. It has occupied 
the present quarters in the McClenathan block since March 
1906. 

The Odd Fellows' building also witnessed the founding 
of the Aaron store in the year 1892. From 1893 to 1897 



324 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

the store was located in the Newmyer building ; then it 
was removed to the McClenathan block where it remained 
until the present fine building was occupied, March 16, 
1906. On the morning of May 2, a disastrous fire burned 
out the three highest stories of the building, but the lower 
floors were protected by a temporary roof and business was 
pushed on while the upper part was torn down and rebuilt. 

One of the early general stores of the town, not yet 
mentioned, was that of the Newcomers. John and Joseph 
Newcomer opened up this store about the year 1854. From 
1857 to 1863, John Taylor was a member of the firm, and 
the Taylor tanneries and the store were operated together. 
To meet the money question, this firm issued scrip of the 
value of 25 c, 50 c, and $1.00, payable at the store, which 
circulated among the tannery men and also to some extent 
among the people of the town. In 1863 this firm dissolved 
and John Newcomer continued in business alone for about 
two years longer, when he sold out and retired. 

Prominent among the early merchants of the town 
were Henry Shaw and Samuel Reisinger. Samuel Reisin- 
ger and Josiah Kurtz were partners in the hatter's trade, 
the former peddling the hats through all the surrounding 
country. Henry Shaw first kept a little general store of 
his own on West Main street, and then went into partner- 
ship with Air. Reisinger. In 1862, Josiah Kurtz bought out 
the interest of Mr. Reisinger in the store and formed the 
partnership of Shaw and Kurtz. This was the beginning 
of the Kurtz store. 

In 1865, Henry J. Kurtz entered this store as a clerk; 
in 1867 he secured an interest in the firm, and, although 
there have been a number of changes in the make-up of 
the firm since that time, he is still actively engaged in busi- 
ness at the same stand. From 1862 to 1867, it was Shaw 
and Kurtz; from 1867 to 1870, Josiah Kurtz and Sons; 
from 1870 to 1875, J. and H. Kurtz, (Josiah M. Kurtz be- 
ing the senior partner) ; from 1875 to 1888, Henry and 
Josiah B. Kurtz; from 1888 to 1896, Kurtz and Freed; 



— .- MERCHANTS OF FOUR GENERATIONS 325 

from 1896 to the present, H. and J. Kurtz. Since the time 
of Kurtz and Freed, the store has carried only dry goods 
and notions. 

During his long service, Mr. Kurtz has seen many 
changes in the business life of the town. In the early years 
the hatters controlled the hat business, the cabinet makers 
the furniture business, the potters the crockery business, 
the tailors the clothing business, etc., while the general 
stores carried only such things as the specialists could not 
supply. In course of time the centralization of labor and 
the invention of modern machinery enabled the general 
stores to undersell the specialists on their own ground. 
This in turn made the business of the general stores so large 
that only the brightest of business men could manage them 
to advantage. Young men starting out in life, made a spe- 
cialty of certain lines of trade and did it so effectively that 
business again was thoroughly divided. For a period of 
fifteen or twenty years the specialists held the field, and 
then reaction brought about another concentration of busi- 
ness in the modern department stores. The father of this 
movement in Connellsville was Morris Kobacker, who came 
here in October. 1889, and opened up a miniature depart- 
ment store on tne Stillwagon corner, under the firm name 
of Kobacker and Company. Business was good and a sec- 
ond room wao rented for the dry goods department in the 
Greenland block. When this company dissolved partner- 
ship Morris Kobacker retained the clothing and men's fur- 
nishings, renting a room in the Weihe building. When the 
Porter building was erected on North Pittsburgh street, Mr. 
Kobacker saw his opportunity and established "The Fa- 
mous" department store. This was the first store of its 
kind in the town and employed from twenty to forty people. 
Since December 31, 1901, this store has been operated by 
the firm of Mace and Company. 

The large department store of the Wright Metzler 
Company, which occupies two floors of the First National 
Bank building was established in April, 1904. Recently a 



326 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

branch store has been established in Uniontown. In 1900, 
W. N. Leche and H. S. Buckwalter established the large 
dry goods store of Leche and Buckwalter. Some time later 
Mr. Leche purchased the interest of his partner and has 
since carried on the business under his own name. 

Featherman and Frank and Long Brothers are also 
enterprising dry goods merchants. Connellsville business 
men have long been noted for their enterprise. Since the 
days of Alexander Johnston, who refused to sit in his store 
and wait for the trade to come to him, but sent out his 
wagons into the surrounding country to bring in the trade, 
they have been regarded as the most energetic trade-makers 
of the Yough region ; and at no time have they held such 
a position of prestige as at present. Shoppers from Union- 
town, Dawson, Dunbar, Scottdale and all the neighboring 
towns are attracted to their well-stocked stores, especially 
during the holiday season. And it is their firm determina- 
tion to hold fast to this trade. The organization of the 
Connellsville Merchants' Association has served to draw 
the men closer together and open up new channels of busi- 
ness enterprise. The accomplishment of the past four gen- 
erations has been great, but those of the future promise 
to be s^reater still. 



CHAPTER X 

RELIGIOUS FORCES 

This region was settled by Christian people. It is 
true that there were not a few reckless spirits among the 
early inhabitants. Those who led wild and irreligious lives ; 
those to whom nothing was sacred and who shrank not from 
deeds of violence and cruelty. But, as a rule, the men and 
women who came to these hills and valleys were a God- 
fearing, home-loving people. A more intelligent, indus- 
trious, sincere and faithful class never settled any country. 
A large proportion of them had been members of the Church 
before coming here, and, in spite of the privations and perils 
of pioneer life, remained true to their religious profession. 
They read their Bibles. They held meetings for prayer. 
They kept up family worship. They formed themselves 
into congregations, and the building of their own humble 
cabins was followed by the building of their schools and 
churches. Where churches had not yet been erected, serv- 
ices were held in shady groves, "God's first temples," with 
a pulpit made of rough slabs often called a "tent," and seats 
made of hewn logs, or in barns, in cabins, in blockhouses or 
in the fields. The first houses of worship were rude in 
their architecture and primitive in their arrangements. 
They were built of logs, with puncheon floor and with seats 
sometimes of planks, but oftener of hewn logs resting on 
blocks and with a wide rail for a back. 

For windows, small openings were cut in the logs, and 
these openings, as a rule, were covered with paper or linen, 
"oiled with hog's lard or bear's grease." Stoves were 
seldom used. In cold weather, the worshippers sat with 
blankets or coverlets wrapped about them. Fires were 
sometimes built outside, around which people gathered be- 
fore and after service. The roof was of clapboards, the 

327 



328 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

door swung on wooden hinges, the pulpit was high, the 
minister's head elevated well-nigh to the ceiling. The 
first churches were small, often only twenty by twenty feet, 
though there were some that reached the dimensions of 
seventy by forty. In these larger churches, many pulpits 
were eight steps in height, and had a sounding board over 
them, often painted blue and sometimes ornamented with 
pictures of the sun, moon and stars. There were no instru- 
ments of music used in the earliest churches. There were 
few tunes. Psalm-singers knew only the "twelve tunes of 
David" — Mear, Dundee, Devizes and others. A precentor 
or "dark," as he was quite universally called, led the sing- 
ing and the whole congregation sang "air." Tenor, bass 
and alto came later. 

Ecclesiastical architecture grew with the growth of the 
population until, early in the last century, churches of brick 
and stone, commonly one storied and simple in style, were 
here and there erected. The more imposing of these old- 
time brick churches had a high gable front, "large windows 
with small 9x12 glass," and the windows screened with the 
old style slat blinds, "the slats held together with tape." 
The pulpit was about ten feet high, with stairs and railings 
on each side. Some pulpits were of the wine-glass pat- 
tern ; others were massive from the floor up, completely 
concealing the average-sized minister when seated, from 
the view of the congregation. The pews were high and had 
doors, closed with a wooden button. 

The first known religious service in what is now Fay- 
ette county, was conducted by George Washington. This 
was at Fort Necessity, in 1754, where he led his little army 
in daily prayers, according to the ritual of the Church of 
England. It is also said that he read the service at the 
burial of General Braddock, Monday morning, July 14. 
1755, and it is probable, though not certain, that he did. 
Christopher Gist, at even an earlier date, may have held re- 
ligious service, in this county, for he was a faithful and 
devoted member of the Episcopal church, and is known, 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 329 



on one occasion, at least, to have read prayers before a 
company of Indians and delivered a religious address to 
them — an event which occurred Christmas, 1T50. in Ohio. 

The first settlers, many of them, came from Virginia, 
and the English Episcopal church was, at the time, the 
Established Church of Virginia, the "legal religion" of the 
colony. Accordingly, many of the first settlers were mem- 
bers of that church. Colonel William Crawford, if not a 
member, was, at least, an adherent of that church and gen- 
erous host that he was, entertained clergymen who came 
to explore the field and care for the religious interests of 
the Episcopal people. One of these clerical visitors was 
the Rev. Daniel McKinnon. an Englishman, who came to 
this ■ vicinity some time before the Revolution, and held 
services. 

In 1775 or 177G, he sailed for England on business, 
leaving his three daughters in this country, to be educated 
at Frederick, Maryland. The vessel on which he sailed 
was lost at sea, and all on board perished. One of the three 
daughters was afterward married to Thomas Rogers, of 
Dunbar township, and from the worthy couple have de- 
scended several families of prominence in this community. 
Another Episcopal "missionary at large" was the Rev. Mr. 
Mitchell, who had been duly ordained and officially ap- 
pointed and who held services here at intervals, from 1780 
to 1790. 

For a considerable time there was no regular place of 
worship, but when the log school house was built in Con- 
nellsville, that unpretentious structure was secured by the 
Episcopalian people for purposes of public worship on the 
Sabbath. It continued to be so used until its destruction 
in 1829, when a removal to New Haven was decided upon. 

Among the ministers who served the congregation, 
v^^hile its meetings were held in Connellsville, were Jehnu 
Clay, in 1810 ; Jacob Morgan Douglas, in 1815 ; Samuel 
Johnson, in 1820 ; Jackson Kemper (afterward Bishop of 
Indiana), in 1825; Dean Richmond, John P. Bausman, who 



330 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

gave half his time to the Brownsville church, and the other 
half to Connellsville and Uniontown, and Lyman N. Free- 
man. 

Among the early settlers of our county, were many 
who belonged to the Society of Friends, commonly called 
Quakers, and for many years they constituted one of the 
most influential religious bodies within our bounds. Near 
Uniontown, stood the old Sandy Hill log meeting house 
where the Beesons, Hackneys, Woodwards and others wor- 
shipped in peace and quiet. In Jefferson township, was 
the Providence meeting-house, and not far from Star Junc- 
tion is the old burial ground, known as the Cope or Red 
Lion cemetery, where many who worshipped in that meet- 
ing-house have been laid to rest. In Redstone township 
was the old Center meeting-house, and in Bridgeport the 
old stone meeting-honse. 

In Connellsville and vicinity, there was a goodly num- 
ber of Quaker families before the year, 1800. John Gib- 
son, a Quaker from Chester covmty, owned a log house on 
Water street, near Main, in which the Quakers held their 
meetings for years. Mr. Gibson donated to the Connells- 
ville society about a quarter of an acre of ground as a 
burial place. A stone wall was built around it and it was 
popularly known as "The Quaker Graveyard." It lay on 
the high bank of the river, at the junction of Witter avenue 
and Fayette street. 

The Society of Friends has long since passed away, 
both from covmty and from Borough, but we may well cher- 
ish the memory of those lovers of peace and promoters of 
good-will among men, and assign them an honorable place 
among those who have contributed to the public good. 

The Baptists came early upon the scene, as early as 
1766. They settled in the Redstone valley and on George's 
creek, and later, on Indian creek and Jacob's creek. The 
Great Bethel Baptist church, Uniontown, was organized 
November 7, 1770, by Henry Crosby. The Redstone Asso- 
ciation was formed in 1776. The Mount JMoriah church 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 331 



in 1784, and at this date an organization of the Baptists 
"near and beyond the Youghiogheny" was under consider- 
ation. 

The Presbyterians came in large numbers, taking up 
lands, clearing farms, building log homes, schools and 
churches. They were Scotch and Scotch-Irish, either by 
birth or by descent, a sturdy, industrious, substantial peo- 
ple. 

In the year 1759, Rev. Dr. Francis Alison, of Phila- 
delphia, one of the finest scholars in the Presbyterian 
church, came as the chaplain of Colonel James Burd's ex- 
pedition. He preached every Sabbath on the march, and' 
in the fort built by Colonel Burd at the mouth of Dunlap's 
creek, Brownsville. 

In 1760, the Svnod of Philadelphia sent two ministers, 
one of them being Rev. Hector Alison, "to see what may be 
done in the way of missionary efforts." 

In 1766, Revs. Charles Beatty and George Duffield 
were sent by the Synod "to explore the frontier settlements 
and to ascertain the condition of the Indians." At Fort 
Pitt, Mr. Beatty preached to the garrison, and Mr. Duffield 
preached to the people who "lived in some kind of a town 
without the fort." The missionaries, on their return, re- 
ported numbers of persons on the frontier earnestly desir- 
ing the enjoyment of reUgious privileges. Others were sent 
by the Synod to supply the frontier settlements with preach- 
ing, and were instructed to take no money for their min- 
isterial labors, showing at once the straitened circumstances 
of the people and the liberality of the Synod. Many Scotch- 
Irish settlers from eastern Pennsylvania, from Virginia and" 
some directly from the north of Ireland, located, in 1770-1, 
in Washington and Fayette counties, the tide of immigration 
constantly growing in volume. In 1771, Rev. James Finley 
spent two months as a missionary in this region. In 1783, 
he moved here and located as a pastor, a number of famil- 
ies, from his former charge in Maryland, coming with 
him. 



332 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Dr. James Power, then in the 29th year of his age. 
"a graceful speaker and a poHshed gentleman," crossed 
the mountains in 1774, and spent the summer of that year 
in missionary labors in southwestern Pennsylvania. In 
1776, he returned to make this region "his permanent home" 
and after a few years of missionary work, became the reg- 
ular pastor of the Mount Pleasant and Sewickley congre- 
gations. 

Dr. James Dunlap, a native of Chester county, became 
pastor of the Laurel Hill and Dunlap's Creek congregations 
in 1782. The Redstone Presbytery, the first presbytery 
erected west of the mountains, was formed September 19, 
1781. 

As to churches, the Dunlap's Creek church was organ- 
ized in a sugar-grove, 1774; the Old Frame church, Tyrone, 
Laurel Hill, Sewickley, Mount Pleasant (middle church), 
1776-7; Rehoboth and Round Hill, 1778; Tent, 1792; Little 
Redstone, 1797; Uniontown, about 1799. 

The history of Methodism in Fayette county dates 
from about 1780, when Robert Wooster, "a local preacher 
from England," began preaching in the neighborhood of 
Uniontown. The Baltimore Conference formed the Red- 
stone Circuit, May 28, 1784, and appointed John Cooper and 
Samuel Breeze to the circuit for one year. They were fol- 
lowed by Peter Moriarity, John Fittler and Wilson Lee. 
Bishop Francis Asbury made several visits to Fayette 
county, the first being in 1784, when he preached in Union- 
town to an audience of several hundred people. It is said 
that the first Methodist meeting-house west of Laurel Hill 
was Fell's, a log structure, built in 1785-6, about two miles 
•east of the present town of Bellevernon. 

The Methodists grew rapidly in numbers and influence. 
Ministers and members were alike noted for their zeal and 
perseverance. Their earnest appeals, their fervent prayers, 
their hearty singing, their unconventional modes of reli- 
gious work, their untiring and energetic labors, their readi- 
ness to adapt themselves to circumstances, contributed to 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 33S 



the progress of JNIethodism. When Robert Ayres and John 
Smith rode the circuit in 1?8G, they made a tour of the 
Yough valley, and it is quite likely that they made Connells- 
ville one of their places of preaching. The Methodists of 
this place for several years held their membership in the 
Uniontown church, but services were frequently held here, 
and a class or society was, no doubt, in existence. Zacha- 
riah Connell had been a Alethodist for years. He was one 
of the trustees of a Methodist church which bought an acre 
of ground from Isaac Meason, the deed bearing date May 
26, 1790. 

.-inthony Mansfield Banning, an itinerant preacher, 
came here as early as 1189. In 1791, he took up his resi- 
dence. iViethodist people in this vicinity may have been 
accustomed to have meetings here, to listen to Banning's 
sermons, it is reliably stated that experience meetings were 
nela m those early times, in tne home of Zachariah Con- 
neli, and, in ail probability, meetings of the same kind were 
lieid at Mount Braddock, where a number of Alethodist 
tamiiies lived. 

I'ne i^utlicran church came into southwest Pennsyl- 
vania at an early date, as, also, did the German Reformed. 
Germans trom the eastern counties and from the leather- 
land settled in the region as early as 1762. They brought 
with them a great love of education and the institutions of 
religion. In the absence of regular ministers, the school- 
masters who had come with them were, in many cases, au- 
thorized to act as lay preachers. These school-masters con- 
ducted public worship, baptized the children, read sermons 
and performed various other ministerial acts. One of these 
was Balthaser Aleyer, who came to Westmoreland in 1769,. 
and located in the Harolds settlement, about three miles 
southwest of Greensburg. He was widely known and highly 
esteemed as a most devoted and efficient worker. 

The Germans were most numerous within the present 
bounds of Westmoreland county, especially along the line 
of the Forbes road. Among the early Lutheran ministers 



ooi CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

were Revs. Anthony Ulrich Luetge, John M. Steck, John 
Stouch, F. H. Lange, who traveled extensively through 
Westmoreland and Fayette counties, caring for the religious 
welfare of the Lutheran settlers and organizing them into 
congregations, while among the Reformed ministers en- 
gaged in similar work for the Reformed people, were Revs. 
John William Weber, Henry Hobbiston and William Winel. 

In German township, Fayette county, Jacob's Evangel- 
ical Lutheran church was established as early as 1773, a 
Reformed congregation being formed at about the same 
time. The two congregations, in course of time, secured 
a glebe or church farm of more than 100 acres, called "The 
Strait and Narrow Way," and erected a house of worship, 
holding the property in common. Many such "Union 
-churches," as they were called, were to be found among the 
German people in earlier days, owing partly to the limited 
resources of the congregations, and partly to the scarcity of 
ministers. In most instances, there was a common treas- 
ury, and one board of trustees composed of Lutheran and 
JReformed members. The church council was likewise com- 
posed of an equal number of elders from each congrega- 
tion. 

This arrangement gave evidence of the fraternal and 
harmonious relations existing between the two denomina- 
tions, but these ecclesiastical unions generally ended in the 
jdecline and death of one or the other of the two congrega- 
tions. 

It may be added that the Germans had a meeting- 
house in George's township, about the year 1774, and that 
the baptismal records of Good Hope church, in Salt Lick 
township, date back to 1788. 

The Roman Catholic church, now so strong in south- 
western Pennsylvania, had feeble beginnings. The first 
'known celebration of the mass west of the Alleghenies was 
at Fort Duquesne, in April or May, 1754. It was celebrated 
by the French chaplain. Father Denys Baron, a Franciscan 
priest. The next known celebration was in June, 1789, near 
*Greensburg, when the Rev. John Baptist Cause visited sev- 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 335 



eral families who had come from eastern Pennsylvania. A 
young French priest, Benedict Joseph Flager, visited Pitts- 
burgh in 1793, and spent six months there, ministering to the 
few Catholics in the town and in the fort. The church grew 
so slowly that it was not until 1808 that the first Catholic 
church (old St. Patrick's) was built in Pittsburgh, and not 
until 1843 that the diocese of Pittsburgh was formed, with 
Rev. Michael O'Connor its first bishop. But, with the re- 
markable industrial development of western Pennsylvania, 
there has been great increase in the Catholic population, and 
churches have been multiplied throughout the region. 

The first settlers, whatever their creed or church, had 
anything but a life of ease. This western country was, in 
truth, a "howling wilderness," and none but brave men and 
women could have endured the toils and hardships to which 
their religious work subjected them. Their meeting-house^ 
were few and far between. Many of the people had a dis- 
tance of ten, fifteen, twenty miles to travel, in attending 
public worship ; they were fortunate who lived within five 
miles of the place of meeting. Their journeys were not 
made in comfortable conveyances, and over macadamized 
roads, for such things were as yet unknown. On horseback 
or afoot, they traveled over roads that were often mere 
bridle-paths. When the pastor of the Brush Creek Re- 
formed congregation gathered together his class of cate- 
chumens, the children were brought from beyond the Kis- 
kiminetas and even beyond the Allegheny. 

In times of Indian invasion or alarm, the men came 
to the meeting-house armed. They stacked their guns, and 
stationed sentinels to give the signal in case of danger. Vig- 
ilance was needed, for Indian hostilities frequently occurred. 
Rev. John Corbley, of Muddy creek, Greene county, was on 
his way to church. Sabbath, the 12th of May, 1783, with 
his wife and five children, when a band of Indians suddenly 
came upon them, and killed the wife and three of the chil- 
dren. 

Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, of Ten Mile, Washington county. 



336 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

wrote in his diary : "For some time we have been unable 
to administer the Lord's Supper, owing to the incursions 
of the savages." 

For the same reason, the Presbytery of Redstone was 
compelled to change the place of its first meeting, and, at 
its second meeting, failed of a quorum. It was no uncom- 
mon thing for the settlers to take refuge in the forts or 
blockhouses, and many a Sabbath service has been held 
in such structures. On account of Indian troubles, churches 
were sometimes long in building, like the Harrold's church, 
Westmoreland county, which stood unfinished for several 
years ; and during the Indian raids, churches were sometimes 
burned, like that of the Old Brush creek congregation, in 
the same township. 

The ministers of that period were exposed to special 
hardships and hazards. Their preaching places were widely 
separated, involving journeys of from ten to fifty miles, 
and long absence from home. There were no finger-boards, 
no bridges, and fording places were often hard to find. They 
were often compelled to swim the streams, to preach in wet 
clothes, to guard against savages, to go long without food 
and sleep in the forest. Of books they had few, of luxuries 
none. Their dwellings, their dress, their food were of the 
simplest description. Among them were men of rare intel- 
lectual force and scholarly attainments. A large propor- 
tion of them were graduates of literary institutions. They 
had been educated in the schools of Germany, England, or 
the eastern part of our own land. The first members of the 
Redstone Presbytery, Power, Dunlap, Dodd, Smith, Mc- 
Millan, all, without exception, were graduates of Princeton 
College. Their salaries were small. Often they were under 
the necessity of teaching or farming to eke out their scanty 
income. 

And yet, these men were not only uncomplaining, bul 
they were untiring in their zeal, unfaltering in their dis- 
charge of duty, and undaunted by the perils and hardships 
of their chosen lot. For the most part, they were character- 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 337 



ized by cheerfulness and geniality. One of their own num- 
ber said : "Some of them were men of considerable wit, and, 
in its proper place, all of them indulged in a heartv, joyous 
spirit." While this was said of the clergy of a particular 
denomination, it might have been said of the clergy of 
those times, in general. Their self-denial, their persever- 
ance, their pastoral fidelity, their dignity and force of char- 
acter, and their wise foresight in seeking to provide for the 
moral and religious needs of the future, entitle them to last- 
ing and grateful remembrance. 

It is true that there were ministers, here and there, 
whose severit}- of look and solemnity of speech made peo- 
ple, especially young people, afraid of them. A minister 
of that period met a boy who was riding horseback, with a 
bag of grain under him. He saw that the boy was shying 
off, and in danger of bringing the bag of grain in contact 
with the fence. The minister called to him, and said : "Don't 
be afraid, my son; Til not hurt you." "The deil trust ye!" 
said the boy, with a look of great alarm and anxiety. 

But, as a class, the pioneer ministers, though positive 
m their convictions and sometimes austere m their man- 
ners, were far from being ill-natured or harsh. Many of 
them were men whom old and young respected, reverenced 
and loved. 

The parishioners, large numbers of them, were of the 
same spirit as the preachers. They were men and women 
of stern religious principle, and were fearless, energetic 
and self-reliant. They were a Bible-reading and church- 
going people, and beneath a rude, rugged exterior, beat 
hearts as loyal to home and conscience and truth and duty 
as were anywhere to be found. They were not adventurers. 
They were men and women chosen by providence for a 
great task, and they have impressed themselves for good 
upon the whole region in which their lot was cast. 

As the years have gone by, great changes have taken 
place. When the hardships of the wilderness" and the perils 
from Indians were reduced, people became more controver- 



338 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

sial. Public debates came into vogue, for a time. Ques- 
tions of doctrine, modes of baptism, forms of church gov- 
ernment were warmly discussed. 

On Wednesday, June 12, 1893, a great concourse of 
people assembled in a grove near Greensburg. They came 
from far and near, some of them a distance of fifty miles, 
to hear a debate upon foreordination and kindred points. 
Rev. John Jamieson, a Scotchman, a graduate of St. An- 
drews University, championed Calvinism, while Rev. Val- 
entine Cook, a young mmister, a Virginian bv birth, upheld 
the doctrines of Arminianism. Discussions on baptism were 
held several times in the southern part of our county in the 
early years of the last century, Rev. Dr. Ashbel Green Fair- 
child, taking part in all of them. 

But there was, from the first, much good feeling be- 
tween the denominations. In our Borough, the use of the 
Baptist and Methodist meeting-houses (the first erected) 
was frequently given to the Presbyterians and others who 
had not yet organized or built. 

A movement was inaugurated, at an uncertain date, 
to erect a Union church, to be used by the Baptists, Presby- 
terians and Episcopalians. A subscription paper was drawn 
up in which the subscribers state the importance of "the 
regular observance of the Sabbath day in the public and 
solemn acts of religious worship," and add : "We, the sub- 
scribers do agree to pay into the hands of Alexander John- 
ston, Caleb Trevor and Daniel S. Norton, or either of them, 
the several sums annexed to our names for the purpose of 
erecting a meeting-house in the Borough of Connellsville 
for the use of the Baptist and Presbyterian denominations 
on the following fundamental conditions, viz: 1. The Pres- 
byterian denomination shall occupy the house on the first 
and third Sabbaths in every month, and the Baptists on the 
second and fourth, and with respect to extra time, it shall 
be left to the discretion of the trustees as to the occupancy 
of the same. 2. As soon as it shall be ascertained that 
funds can be raised to erect and complete a meeting-house 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 339 



as aforesaid, the subscribers shall meet and choose seven 
trustees, three of whom shall belong to the Baptist, three 
to the Presbyterian, and one to the Episcopalian church, 
who shall select a suitable piece of ground on which the 
same shall be erected and hold it in trust for the purposes 
above mentioned." 

The date of this subscription paper is somewhere be- 
tween 1808 and 1817. The proposed Union meeting-house 
was never built, but the effort to secure it is an indication 
of friendly relations between the denominations referred to. 

The methods of raising church funds have undergone 
many changes. At one time, funds were raised by subscrip- 
tion. The amount subscribed was often called "steepens" 
(stipend^, and some subscribers paid their share of the 
preacher's salar}' in vegetables, grain, flour, or other pro- 
visions. Church dues were also paid in work, in boards or 
in nails. A debt due, in 1828, to the Methodist Episcopal 
church of this place was settled, in part, by delivering to 
the trustees one hundred pounds of bar iron at four cents 
a pound. Penny collections were taken up in a hat, a basket 
or in a black poke attached to a pole. 

Church services have been much reduced in length. 
The "long prayer" was often a half-hour long, and the ser- 
mon occupied from an hour and a half to two hours. In 
warm weather men were at liberty to remove their coats, 
and the minister frequently set them the example. Drowsy 
hearers could rise, and overcome their drowsiness by stand- 
ing awhile. It is said that, on a summer's day, one might 
have seen twenty, thirty, forty people, of both sexes and 
of all ages, "standing bolt upright," in various parts of the 
house, during the sermon. When our Borough was incor- 
porated, in 1806, there was not a church building within its 
limits. The old log school house was still in use as a 
house of worship. Several years passed before a church 
building was erected. Now there are sixteen in Connells- 
ville and five in New Haven, and almost all denominations 
are represented in our community. How great the trans- 




TEMPLES OF THE FATHERS 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 341 



formation since the days when the forests were our tem- 
ples and "the aisles of the dim wood" rang with "hymns 
of lofty cheer !" 

Twenty-five years ago or more large numbers of peo- 
ple from central Europe began coming into the Connells- 
ville coke region. They are chiefly from Austria and Hun- 
gary, and number at the present time about thirty-two thou- 
sand in the region, representing thirteen dififerent national- 
ities and languages. Slovak, Bohemian, Croatian, Magyar, 
Polish and others. In recent years, they have been build- 
ing churches of their own. In the United States there are 
now about 260 Catholic churches and about 120 Protestant 
churches for these people. Connellsville has a Slovak 
Lutheran church and a Magyar or Hungarian Catholic 
church, and New Haven has a Slovak Catholic and a Polish 
Catholic. There is a Greek Catholic church at Leisenrino^ 
No. 1, about two and a half miles west of us. These people 
are mainly employed at the coke plants, though not a few 
are in business, and on small farms. 

In 1881, there were only three or four Italian families 
living in Connellsville and New Haven, but in the last eight 
or ten years their numbers have multiplied, by a remarka- 
ble immigration, until at present the resident Italian popu- 
lation of the two Boroughs and Dunbar township is esti- 
mated at three thousand persons. They are engaged in var- 
ious kinds of business and labor, try to get their own homes 
and send their children to English schools. There is now 
an Italian Catholic church in Connellsville. A service for 
Protestant Italians has been conducted for a year and a 
half in the Presbyterian church, under the direction of an 
Italian missionary. 

We proceed now to give brief historical sketches of our 
existing local churches, in the order of their formation : 

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CONNELLSVILLE. 

This church was organized June 26, 1796. It is the 
oldest ecclesiastical organization in Connellsville, and the 



343 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

fourth oldest Baptist church in Fayette county. The Great 
Bethel Baptist church, Uniontown, was constituted in 1770, 
the church at Turkey foot in 1774, the Mt. Moriah church 
in 1784. 

The following persons were the first members : David 
Lobdell, Joshua Lobdell, Samuel Trevor, Caleb Trevor, 
Michael Bryant, Sarah Muir, Sarah Trevor, Nancy Bryant 
and Mary Lobdell. The first deacons were Samuel Trevor 
and David Lobdell. 

During the first eight years, there being no regular 
pastor, the services were conducted by visiting clergymen 
or by men selected from their own number. 

The first regularly installed pastor was the Rev. James 
Frey, who served from 1804 to 1809, Rev. George Watkins 
served from 1810 to 4815, Rev. James Estep, afterward D. 
D., became pastor in 1815, and continued as such until 1830. 
His was the longest pastorate in the history of the congre- 
gation, and it was during his pastorate that the first house 
of worship was erected. Deacon Samuel Trevor and his 
brother, Caleb, donated the ground for the building, on 
the southwest corner of Pittsburgh and Apple streets, and 
contributed generously to its erection. It was built in 1817, 
and was a one-story brick building, with three large Cor- 
inthian columns in front. In this house, the church wor- 
shipped sixty years. 

The first years were years of steady growth in num- 
bers and influence. Many of the officers and members were 
representative persons in the Borough, and the church 
stood high in the esteem and confidence of the community. 
During this period and for many years afterward. Deacon 
Provance McCormick was a tower of strength to the church. 
He was an active and prominent office-bearer in the church 
for fifty-six years. 

The harmony and prosperity were seriously interrupted 
by the agitation and discussions connected with the rise 
of a new ecclesiastical organization under the leadership 
of the Rev. Alexander Campbell, a Baptist minister and a 




THE THREE HOUSES OF WORSHIP OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 



344 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

member of the Redstone Association. The controversy lasted 
several years. 

At a meeting of the Association in the old Redstone 
church at Smock, Franklin township, in September, 1826, 
a heated and prolonged discussion was held on the questions 
then at issue among Baptists. Rev. Alexander Campbell 
was the leader of one side, and Rev. William Brownfield, ot 
the Great Bethel church, Uniontown, the leader of the other 
side. When the vote was taken, the "'regular" Baptists, 
under Brownfield, were found in the majority, and the op- 
posing forces were practically excluded from membership 
in the association. Mr. Campbell and followers left the 
house and, at their rec^uest, he mounted a rock and preached 
a sermon on the matter in controversy. 

In time, the excluded churches formed a new associa- 
tion, which afterward withdrew from the Baptist connec- 
tion, and became known simply as Christian churches. Al- 
most every congregation in the Redstone Association was 
affected by this movement, and the Connellsville church 
was no exception. Many members withdrew from it, weak- 
ening it to such an extent that for some years it was diffi- 
cult to continue the work. In 1832, Rev. Benoni Allen was 
in charge; in 1835, Rev. J. P. Rockafeller; in 1837, Rev. 
Milton Sutton, who served the church four years. From 
1840 to 1850, the pastors were the Revs. J. W. Tisdale, 
E. D. Brown and John Parker. The Rev. W. W. Hickman 
was oastor in 1851-2. Rev. John Scott was pastor for a 
time soon after, but from 1854 to 1864, the church was 
served mainly by supplies. Revs. W. W. Hickman, N. B. 
Critchfield, David Williams and W. H. Cooper had pastoral 
charge from 1864 to 1875. Rev. R. C. Morgan served for 
several years, beginning April, 1876. 

The old meeting house was taken down in 1877, and a 
two-storied brick building was erected in its stead, on the 
same site. This was a substantial and, for that time, com- 
modious building, and cost about $12,000. 

For several years of the next decade, the congregation 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 345 



had many trials and there was much division and hindrance 
in the work. Peace and harmony were, in a measure, re- 
stored under the tactful and consecrated leadership of the 
Rev. James A. Maxwell, who took charge, early in 1892. 
Mr. Maxwell remained four years, resigning in March, 
1896, to accept a call to the First Baptist church, McKees- 
port. Pa. During Mr. Maxwell's administration, a congre- 
gation of seceded Baptists, which had been in existence sev- 
eral years and had been served by the Revs. Hamilton and 
Preston as successive pastors, agreed to disband their or- 
ganization and return, as most of them did, to the old 
church. 

Soon after the close of this excellent and fruitful pas- 
torate, an unfortunate choice of pastor was made, and the 
church was subjected to a severe trial. A small number 
withdrew, though the congregation, in general, stood firm 
and loyal. Rev. J. Spencer Kennard, D. D.. was secured 
in 1897 as a stated supply, and acted as such for several 
months. He proved to be an experienced and able adviser 
and leader. 

Rev. T. J. Edwards was pastor from 1898 until 1904. Dur- 
ing his pastoral term, the congregation disposed of its prop- 
erty on the corner of Pittsburgh and Apple streets, realizing 
$17,000 from the sale, and built the fine stone structure at 
the southeast corner of Baldwin avenue and South Pitts- 
burgh street. This, its third house of worship, with organ, 
and furnishings, cost about $40,000. It is of old English 
Gothic architecture, well-built and of graceful proportions. 
The auditorium, with its massive columns, symmetrical 
arches and beautiful decorations, presents a most pleasing 
and attractive appearance. 

Rev. Maynard R. Thompson ministered to the church 
from July, 1904 to July, 1905, and Rev. A. A. DeLarme 
from October, 1905 to September, 1906. Mr. DeLarme re- 
signed in order to take the pastoral charge of the First 
church, McKeesport, as the successor of Rev. Jas. A. Max- 
well. The membership of the Connellsville church, in May, 



346 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

1906, was 301, and during the past year, over $3,000 has 
been raised for congregational, denominational and benevo- 
lent purposes. 

The present pastor. Rev. E. A. E. Palmquist, took 
charge of the church, November 1, 1906. The official mem- 
bers are as follows : L. V. Marshall, church clerk ; Chas. 
Hatfield, treasurer ; John Bailey, W. E. Penn, William 
Stauffer, David B. Evans, R. L. Boyd, C. S. Smutz, David 
Workman, deacons ; F. C. Rose, Austin Cable, W. G. Rob- 
inson, A. M. Smith, Theodore Hazen, trustees; J. J. Mit- 
chell, Superintendent Sabbath School. 

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 

The early history of Methodism in Connellsville is in- 
volved in some degree of obscurity. It is certain that the 
Redstone circuit, the first circuit west of the mountains, was 
formed in ITS-l; but it is not known precisely when Con- 
nellsville became an appointment or preaching place on that 
circuit, when a formal organization was efitected, or even 
when the first house of worship was erected. 

It is certain, however, that Connellsville was an appoint- 
ment on the Redstone circuit in ISOO, that Rezin Cash and 
Isaac Robbins were the circuit preachers that year, and 
that members were received into the church, among them 
the wife of Dr. James Francis. 

It is beyond doubt that Rev. Anthony Mansfield Ban- 
ning, John Page, Greenbury Jones, George Mathiot and es- 
pecially Zachariah Connell took part in the establishment 
of the church. Zachariah Connell was a member of the 
first recorded board of trustees. He was devotedly attached 
to the INIethodist church, opened the doors of his own home 
to religious meetings, conducting meetings himself, and 
evidently very generous in the support of the church. He 
was a "teetotaler," an exemplary Christian, honest and pub- 
lic spirited, and held family worship morning and evening. 

Until 1863, the Connellsville congregation was, with 
the exception of one or two years, on a circuit of appoint- 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 347 



ments. Two, sometimes three, preachers were on the cir- 
cuit, and among these were Thornton Fleming, "of excellent 
memory" (1813), Charles Thorn, Jacob K. Miller (1828),. 
David Sharp, Jeremiah Knox (1835), Samuel Wakefield, 
D. L. Dempsey (1838), P. M. McGowan, Joseph Ray 
(1847), Wm. Stewart, John Wakefield (1855). 

The first stationed pastor, after the church was taken 
off the circuit in 1863, was J. W. Weaver. The next year 
Charles W. Smith was pastor. He spent from September 
5 to October 17 of the year in front of Petersburg in the 
service of the Christian commission. 

The following" is a list of the pastors from that time 
to the present: James J. Jones, 1865-7, Chas. W. Scott 
1868-9. Simpson W. Horner 1870-1, T. H. .Wilkinson 
1872-4, J. F. Jones 1875-6, John A. Banks 1877-9, Joseph 
Hollingshead 1880, M. L. Weekly 1881, Robert T. Miller 
1881-4, Robert B. Mansell 1884-7. John W. Baker 1887-91, 
T. F. Pershing 1891-6, Joseph B. Risk 1896-99, M. J.. 
Sleppy ('99-1902), M. A. Rigg (1902-06). 

The present pastor, A. J. Ashe, took charge in October, 
1906. The first house of worship was the "old stone house- 
on the hill, "which was situated on the southwest corner 
of Prospect street and Orchard alley. It is not known pre- 
cisely when it was built, but it was built at some time before 
the death of Zachariah Connell in 1813, for in an old docu- 
ment of unknown date, Zachariah Connell is named as one 
of the "trustees of the Methodist meeting-house in Con- 
nellsville." The structure seems to have been long, how- 
ever, in reaching completion. It is implied, in a financial 
statement, dated January 2, 1815, that the house was not 
ceiled and floored long before that date. The pulpit was 
contracted for by the women of the congregation and paid 
for by them as shown by a subscription list, dated November 
29, 1819. Hiram Herbert, the pioneer cabinet maker, built 
the pulpit. Michael Gilmore "sealed" and floored the build- 
ing. 

The property was sold in 1836 to John Taylor, who sold 



348 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVTLLE 

it in 1836 to John Taylor, who sold to Gebhart, Freeman & 
Co., and for some years it was used as a foundry. About 
thirty-five years ago, it was purchased by the Roman Cath- 
olic congregation. 

In 1836, a part of lot No. 132, southwest corner of 
Apple street and Meadow alley, was bought for $100 from 
Wihiam Davidson. The deed bears date of March 1, 1837. 
A one-story brick church was erected, in 1836, upon this 
ground, and was used as a house of worship until, during 
the pastorate of Rev. Robert T. Miller (1881-4), it was 
taken down to be replaced by the present two-story brick 
building. 

The present building was not completed until in the 
early part of Rev. R. B. Mansell's pastorate (1884-87), 
though the lecture room was in use for service before Rev. 
Mr. Miller's term closed. 

The building is neatly and substantially constructed, 
with a graceful spire, with large and handsome windows, 
with a sonorous bell and with a seating capacity of some- 
what more than four hundred. The church was dedicated, 
June 14, 1885, by Bishop Edward G. Andrews, D. D., 
L.L. D., then of Washington, D. C, now of New York, 
who preached in the morning on, ''Have Faith in God," and 
in the evening on, "Whatsoever a man Soweth That Shall 
He Also Reap." 

During T. H. Wilkinson's pastorate ('73-74), a lot 
was secured on the southwest corner of Pittsburgh street 
and North alley, and a two-story frame parsonage was built 
thereon. Tliis house was sold for $5,500 in 1893, and a 
two-story frame house purchased in its stead for $4,000. 
This house, situated on the northeast corner of Eighth 
street and Murphy avenue, was occupied as a parsonage for 
several years. It was sold during M. J. Sleppy's pastorate, 
and the present large, convenient and attractive brick par- 
sonage was built on ground donated by A. B. Morton, and 
situated on the northwest corner of South Pittsburgh street 
and Morton avenue. The building was erected 1900-1, and 
cost $7,500. 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 349 



The first board of trustees, of which we have record, 
consisted of Zachariah Connell, Anthony ^^lansfield Banning, 
Greenbury Jones, John Page and, perhaps, one other. 

The trustees in 1823 were George Mathiot, Stewart 
Johnston, Michael Lore, Gustavus Kells, Samuel Parker. 
Theophilus Sheppard and Asher Smith. In 1819, Charles 
McLane was secretary and treasurer. 

May 30, 1830, George Mathiot, John W. Phillips, Asher 
Smith, and Jacob Conrad were trustees. Alarch 1, 1837, 
John Wilson, Philip Snyder, Jacob Conrad, Levi B. Page, 
and Samuel Marshall were trustees. In 1848, the trustees 
were Levi B. Page, John Wilson, Henry Detweiler, James 
Wilkey and Dr. Lutellus Lindley. 

The present officers of the congregation are, as fol- 
lows : trustees, John B. Skinner, Christian Felty, A. J. 
Francis, L. A. Howard, George Powell, Albert B. Kurtz, 
F. C. Johnston, S. W. ]\Ietzler ; stewards, W. H. Hugus, 
W. J. Hicks, Harry Crossland, C. E. Demuth, A. A. Clark, 
A. M. Simpson, Henry Rhodes, E. W. Horner, A. H. Murie, 
John B. Davis, Dr. S. G. McCune, W. S. Behanna, S. B. 
Henry. 

The church has a prosperous Sabbath school, a large 
and active Epworth League, several missionary and other 
societies and a membership of about five hundred. 

THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH 

On the second day of November, 1830, a general con- 
vention of those who came to be known as Methodist Prot- 
estants was held in Baltimore, Md. At that convention, a 
constitution was framed and adopted, with rules for the dis- 
cipline and government of the church. 

It was at about this date that the ^lethodist Protestant 
congregation of Connellsville was established. An old M. 
E. conference record describes 1830 as the year of a "radi- 
cal secession at Connellsville," and the statistics of the cir- 
cuit show a decrease of 139 members that year. On the 
30th of January, 1831, it was announced, at a meeting of 



350 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

the trustees of the M. E. church, that John W. PhilUps 
and Asher Smith, who had long been members of the board, 
"dechned serving any longer as trustees." It may be pre- 
sumed that, inasmuch as these two men were among the 
founders of the M. P. congregation, that congregation had 
but lately been founded. 

It is altogether likely, therefore, that the organization 
dates from November or December, 1830. The meeting for 
effecting the organization was held in the Baptist church, 
and was presided over by the Rev. George Brown. 

Moses Scott, a weaver in New Haven and a local 
preacher in the M. E. church, entered into the new organiza- 
tion with great zeal, and traveled widely through this re- 
gion, establishing several other societies. A circuit, with 
twelve appointments upon it, was formed, called the Union 
circuit, and connected with the Ohio Methodist Protestant 
Conference. Moses Scott was ordained deacon by the con- 
ference in 1831, and was appointed to this circuit, with Wil- 
liam Marshall as his associate. They served one year. With 
the exception of the year 18J:8, the Connellsville church was 
attached to a circuit, usually with two preachers in charge, 
until 1869, when it became a station. Among those who 
were on the circuit were James Robinson, in 1839, John 
Scott, D. D., in 1843, George Brown in 1849, Henry Lucas, 
in 1858-59, and 1865-6, and James B. Lucas, in 1861-2. 

The stationed pastors from 1869 down have been, C. 
P. Jordan, William Reeves, William Collier, John Gregory, 
A. D. Brown, J. F. Dyer, Geo. C. Sheppard, F. M. Foster, 
A. R. Seaman, A. E. Fletcher, Geo. C. Conway, A. W. Rob- 
ertson, P. T. Conway, Geo. W. Morris, and W. H. Gladden. 

Rev. Leigh Layman, for eleven years a missionary in 
Japan, is the present pastor, having taken charge of the 
•church in September, 1906. 

Ground for a house of worship was donated by John 
Wesley Phillips, already mentioned as having been a trustee 
in the M. E. church, son-in-law of Zachariah Connell. He 
was also a liberal contributor to the erection of the building. 




1. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 

2. UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 



3. METHODIST EPISCOPAI. CHURCH 

4. METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH 



352 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

which took place in 1832, when WilHam College and James 
Porter were on the circuit. The ground is on the south 
side of Apple street, near Arch, and the first house of wor- 
ship erected on it, was a plain one-story brick building, with 
three doors, one in the front, and one on each side, the 
side doors opening into an aisle running crosswise in front 
of the pulpit. The opening sermon was preached by the 
Rev. J. B. Lucas, from the text, "How shall we escape if 
we neglect so great salvation?" 

The trustees in 1833 were John Wesley Phillips, Asher 
Smith, Thomas Kilpatrick. Samuel Freeman. Isaac W. 
Francis, John Stillwagon and John Semple. 

During the pastorate of Rev. George C, Sheppard 
which began in 1882, the first church building was removed, 
and the present attractive and commodious house of wor- 
ship was reared in its stead. The erection of the new house 
began April 1, 1883, and was dedicated December 23, 1883. 
Rev. George B. McElroy, of Adrian, Mich., preached in 
the morning, and Rev. Dr. T. H. Colhouer, of Pittsburgh, 
in the evening. In the afternoon, a fraternal service was 
held, with addresses by neighboring pastors and visitors. 
The weather was exceedingly unfavorable. A fierce moun- 
tain storm fell upon the town that morning, with rain, sleet, 
snow and furious blasts of boisterous wind, continuing all 
day long. The church was filled nevertheless, at these ded- 
icatory services, and the cost of its erection ($14,000) was 
almost entirely provided for during the day. 

During the pastorate of William Collier (1871-73) the 
parsonage was built, a two-story frame house next door to 
the church on the east. The present of^cers of the congre- 
gation are Rev. Leigh Layman, pastor ; Lloyd Johnston, 
Worth Kilpatrick, Geo. B. Brown, Joseph Stillwagon, Jo- 
seph DeHaven, Jesse Herbert, trustees ; B. L. Berg, C. L. 
Inks, W. W. Pickett, Wm. McDowell, Mrs. Mora Shaner, 
Mrs. Melissa Gaudy, Miss Etta Berger, Miss Mabel Still- 
wagon, stewards. 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 353 



THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 

This church was organized October J:th, 1831. On that 
date, the Presbytery of Redstone was in session in the Re- 
hoboth church, near Bellevernon and, at that meeting, "a 
memorial" was received "from the inhabitants of Connells- 
vihe." "praying to be organized into a congregation and, 
also, to obtain supplies." The record of Presbytery states 
that the memorial "was granted." 

Twenty-two names were enrolled, namely : Alexander 
Johnston, Mrs. Margaret Johnston, Miss Nancy Johnston 
(afterward Mrs. James Blackstone). William Lytle, Mrs. 
Mary Lytle, Isaac Taylor, Mrs. Rachel Taylor, Mrs. Sarah 
Turner, Dr. Joseph Rogers, Mrs. Elizabeth Rogers, Eliz- 
abeth Canon, Xancy Norton, Louisa Norton, Alargaret 
Francis, Harriet Fuller, Margaret Lytle, Caroline Trevor, 
Mary Barnett, Samuel Finley, Mary Finley, Samuel McCor- 
mick and Elizabeth McCormick. Of these 32 persons, 19 
had belonged to the Tyrone church (Tyrone township) and 
the twenty-two are all now dead. 

These charter members, almost all of them, were resi- 
dents of Connellsville. There were other Presbyterians, 
members of the Laurel Hill church, living in Dunbar town- 
ship and near our town, most of whom, in a comparatively 
short time, identified themselves with the new organization. 

Alexander Johnston, who came to Connellsville in 1808, 
already an elder in the Tyrone church, served as the first 
and, for ten months, the onl}' elder in the Connellsville 
church. A Scotch-Irishman by birth, a Presbyterian by con- 
viction, a man of great force of character and of great per- 
severance in church work, the congregation is largely in- 
debted to him for its success in the early years of its his- 
tory. For many years before the organization was formed, 
Mr. Johnston held meetings for prayer and conference in 
his own house, and secured preaching services at frequent 
intervals, these services being held in homes, in the school 
house, or in one of the churches, as opportunity was af- 



354 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

forded. These services were conducted for the most part 
by neighboring Presbyterian ministers, sometimes by Rev. 
James Guthrie, pastor of Laurel Hill and Tyrone and some- 
times by Rev. William Wylie, pastor of the Uniontown 
church. 

After its organization, the church was supplied for a 
time by the Rev. T. M. Chestnut, being followed by the 
Rev. John L. Hawkins as stated supply from December 
15, 1831, to June 20, 1837, becoming pastor at the latter 
date. He was under the direction of the general assembly's 
board of missions during the period of his service as stated 
supply, and labored alternately at Connellsville and Indian 
Creek, there being a number of families at Indian Creek 
belonging to the Connellsville church. 

The first pastor. Rev. John L. Hawkins, was born in 
Chambersburg, Pa., August 8th, 1800 ; graduated from 
Washington College in 1818 ; licensed by Washington (Pa.) 
Presbytery, April 21, 1825, and ordained by same, October, 
1827. After serving the Connellsville church five and a half 
years as stated supply, Mr. Hawkins was installed pastor 
on the 20th of June, 1837, on a salary of $-1:00 a year. At 
his installation. Rev. William Johnston presided, and Rev. 
Noah H. Gillett preached. His pastorate continued until 
April 12, 1843. After leaving this charge, he served the 
churches of Sharon, Mt. Carmel, Baxter Springs and Car- 
bondale, Kansas, and was honorably retired in 1887. He 
died at Fort Scott, Kansas, June 14th, 1897, in the 97th 
year of his age. 

The second pastor was the Rev. Ross Stevenson, who, 
after supplying the church for some months, was ordained 
and installed as pastor, June 13th, 1845, by the Presbytery 
of Redstone, Rev. James Guthrie presiding and addressing 
the pastor, Rev. Samuel Wilson preaching the sermon, and 
Rev. Noah H. Gillett addressing the congregation. 

Dr. Stevenson was born in Strabane, Tyrone county, 
Ireland, November 12, 1814. He graduated in 1840 from 
Franklin College, Ohio, and in 1844, from the Western 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 355 



Theological Seminary, Allegheny, Pa. He was licensed to 
preach by the Ohio Presbytery in June, 1843. He was re- 
leased from Connellsville, October 6. 1852, after which 
he was not only a stated supply in several places, but was 
pastor for five years in Johnston, eleven in Ligonier and 
Pleasant Grove, Blairsville Presbytery, five in Pisgah and 
Troy, Clarion Presbytery, five in Florence. Washington 
Presbytery, and somewhat less than four in Lower Ten Mile 
church, in the same Presbytery. He received the degree 
of Doctor of Divinity from Franklin College in 1878. He 
was a forcible preacher, a faithful pastor and an honored 
Presbyter. After a brief illness, he died at his home 
in Washington, Pa., January lU, 1893, in the seventy-ninth 
year of age. 

On a memorial, adopted for record by his Presbytery, 
it is said of Dr. Stevenson : "For fifty years he was permit- 
ted to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom, and in all his 
several pastoral charges lying in western Pennsylvania, his 
name has become a very familiar and honored one in all 
this region." 

The third pastor was the Rev. James Black, afterward 
D. D., L.L. D. He was ordained and installed, June 14, 
1853, Rev. Henry W. Biggs preaching the sermon, Rev. 
Samuel Wilson presiding and charging the pastor, and 
Rev. J. R. Hughes charging the people. Dr. Black was not 
only a diligent pastor, but conducted a classical school for 
some years in New Haven. He was a thorough Christian 
gentleman, a man of ripe scholarship and held in high esteem 
by all who knew him. He was released from this church 
in April, 1860, and accepted a professorship in Washington 
College, Pa., now Washington and Jefferson. Later, 
he was president of the Western Pennsylvania College for 
Women, Pittsburgh, and still later, a professor in Wooster 
University, Ohio. He died in Wooster, Ohio, December 
23, 1890, aged 65 years. 

The fourth pastor was Rev. Noah H. Gillett Fife, or- 
dained and installed, April 29. 1863, and released Novem- 



356 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

ber 29, 1867. Dr. Fife is at the present time pastor of the 
Presbyterian church in Clearfield, Pa. 

The fifth pastor was Rev. Alexander Ballantyne Fields, 
born in Allegheny Co., Pa., October 16, 1835, graduated 
from Jefiferson College in 1857, studied in the United Pres- 
byterian Theological Seminary, Allegheny, was licensed 
and ordained by the Westmoreland U. P. Presbytery, came 
into the Presbyterian church, was installed pastor at Con- 
nellsville, January 29, 1868, and was released June 1, 1869. 
He died at Brockwayville, Pa., October 17, 1886, aged 51 
years. His death was caused by a railway accident. 

The sixth pastor was Rev. John M. Barnett. who was 
installed on the third Monday of May, 1870, and released 
June 1, 1882. Dr. Barnett is now the senior member of 
Redstone Presbytery, and for several years has been chap- 
lain of the Sanatorium at Markleton, Pa. 

The seventh pastor. Rev. Albert Z. McGogney, was 
installed October 25, 1882, and was released September 28, 

1886. He is now pastor of the Presbyterian church in 
Paola, Kansas. 

The present pastor, the eighth, is Rev. William A. 
Edie, who took charge on the first Sabbath of February, 

1887, and was installed May 19. 1887. 

Among those who supplied the congregation during in- 
tervals of pastoral vacancy were Revs. James F. Holcomb. 
William P. Moore and Elijah R. Donehoo. Dr. Holcomb 
was stated supply from April to September, 1860. He is 
a native of Connecticut, a graduate of Jefferson College, 
Canonsburg, and of the Western Theological Seminar}, 
Allegheny, and has been a missionary in India since 1870. 
under appointment of the Presbyterian board. 

Dr. Moore served as a supply for one year from March 
24, 1861. In 1862, he became chaplain of the 14:2d regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania Infantry, one of whose companies (Co. 
H.) was recruited in Connellsville by Captain J. M. Du 
Shane. Later, he was pastor in Fredericksburg, Ohio, 
where he died. May 3, 1894, aged 64 years. 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 357 



Dr. Donehoo served the church from April 1, 1862, 
until December 37, 1862. He went to Pittsburgh, where 
he was pastor of the West End church until the summer of 
1906. He has for many years been prominently identified 
with various forms of benevolent and religious work in the 
city. 

The elders of tne church have been ol in number. 
Alexander Johnston, the first elder, served until his death, 
September 3, 1861:. The following persons were added to 
the eldership, October 28. 1832, viz: William Lytle, died, 
December 7, 1845, Isaac Taylor, died, August 29. 1869, and 
Joseph Paull, February 11, 1880. 

The following were added. March 7, 1811: Robert 
Torrence, Noble C. McCormick and William Cunningham. 
On January 7, 1850, Wm. McCrea, John Taylor and Jo- 
seph H. Cunningham were made elders ; September 29, 
1851, Samuel Russell was added to the list; March 20, 
1866, Robert Beatty ; February 21, 1868, James Allen ; 
April 16, 1873, John R. Johnston; second Sabbath, Febru- 
ary, 1871, Thomas W. Watt; April 5, 1871, A. B. Hosack 
and H. C. McCormick; November 28, 1875. Wihiam Bar- 
nett and Adam Armstrong; May 6, 1878, Chas. N. Boyd 
and Jacob May ; December 7, 1879, James Calhoun and 
Hugh M. Kerr ; September 1, 1883, James L. Paull and 
Wm. D. McDowell, (Mr. Paull was ordained and installed, 
April 16, 1873, but in 1871 was transferred to the Dunbar 
church, returning to the Connellsville church in 1883). On 
November 6. 1892, John Adams, Jr., was installed, L. W. 
Wolfe and Harry S. Spear ordained and installed. On 
April 10, 1903, Isaiah C. Smutz, Alfred W. Hood and John 
A. Armstong were ordained and installed as elders. 

For somewhat more than seven years after its organ- 
ization, the congregation held its services chiefly in the 
Baptist church, then on the corner of Pittsburgh and Apple 
streets, and occasionally in the Methodist church, then on 
Prospect street near Main. On April 2, 1836, the ground 
on which the Presbyterian church now stands was pur- 



358 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

chased from Joshua G. Gibson and the minor heirs of Jo- 
seph Gibson for $450. John Fuller and Isaac Taylor acted 
as agents for the congregation in making the purchase, and 
Alexander Johnston and Isaac Taylor were appointed a 
committee "to receive subscriptions for the erection of a 
meeting-house." The building was erected after consider- 
able delay, and was "opened for the occupancy of the con- 
gregation," January 6, 1839. 

The church record states that "the occasion was marked 
with appropriate religious services." Early on Sabbath 
morning, March 29, 1863, the building took fire and was par- 
tially destroyed. The celebration of the Communion had 
been arranged for and, notwithstanding the fire, the plans 
were carried out by holding the service in the Baptist 
church. The walls, however, were left standing, and it was 
not long until the building was repaired and re-opened. 
Meanwhile the services were held, for the most part, in the 
Baptist church, which at the time had service on alternate 
Sabbaths. 

In 1884, the old building was remodeled with new front 
and new roof, and with a chapel added to it. The church 
was re-opened Sabbath, December 21, 1884, with a dedica- 
tory sermon by Rev. W. H. Jeffers, Professor of Old Testa- 
ment Literature, in the Western Theological Seminary. 
Allegheny, Pa. 

The parsonage, 125 Peach street, was built in the sum- 
mer of 1871, as a memorial of the reunion of the new school 
and old school bodies in 1870. It was built at a cost of 
$3,116, upon two lots donated by John R. Johnston, John 
Taylor and Thomas W. Watt. 

In 1874 members living in and around Dunbar were 
dismissed to organize themselves into a church at that place. 
In the early days the Dunbar people had to walk or drive to 
the church. 

When the railroad was built to Dunbar, Elders Joseph 
Paull and Thomas W. Watt secured from the officials the 
privilege of running a large hand car on Sabbaths to Con- 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 359 



nellsville. This was continued until March, 1870, when the 
hand car proving too small to accommodate the people, a 
special car was chartered for the use of church-goers. This 
arrangement, however, was discontinued in September, 
1873. The organization of the Dunbar church, Wednesday, 
April 29, 1874, was granted by the Presbytery upon the 
recommendation of the pastor and session of the Connells- 
ville church and upon a petition signed by 85 residents of 
the town and township of Dunbar. 

A Sabbath school was established soon after the church 
of Connellsville began its existence and, as the years have 
passed, seven auxiliary societies have been formed, mission- 
ary, benevolent and local. 

The present session is composed of Rev. William A. 
Edie, moderator ; Hugh M. Kerr, clerk ; L. W. Wolfe, Harry 
S. Spear, Isaiah C. Smutz, Alfred W. Hood and John A, 
Armstrong. 

The trustees are Dr. G. W. Gallagher, president; Wil- 
liam S. Yard, secretary ; Isaiah C. Smutz, treasurer ; Col. 
James M. Reid. John M. Herpick and J. Renwick Davidson. 

The deacons, to whom is committed the relief of the 
poor and those in straits, are William L. Robbins, John 
Hoop, William E. Barnette and Alfred W. Hood. 

The fiftieth anniversary of the church's history was ap- 
propriately celebrated October, 1881. 

The seventy-fifth anniversary was celebrated October 
7-14, 1906. On Sabbath, the 7th, the pastor preached a 
historical discourse ; Tuesday, the 9th, a reception was held, 
at which addresses were delivered by Rev. John B. Reed, of 
Laurel Hill (conveying the congratulations of Presbytery) ; 
Rev. John M. Barnett, D. D., of Markleton ; Rev. Ellis B. 
Burgess, of Trinity Lutheran church, Connellsville, and 
Rev. James B. Hill, of Dunbar. Services preparatory to the 
celebration of the communion were held Thursday and Fri- 
day evenings, 11th and 12th, when Rev. H. W. Hanna. of 
the Dawson and Tyrone churches and Rev. Charles G. 
Fisher, of the Mt. Pleasant (Aliddle) church, preached. On 
Sabbath, the 14th, Rev. E. R. Donehoo, D. D., of Pitts- 
burgh, preached and assisted in the administration of the 
Lord's Supper. 



OOU CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES Or CHRIST). 

This congregation was founded in the year 1832. Les- 
ter L. Norton and J. Newmyer were the first elders, and 
David Shallenberger was the first deacon. For a long time 
the homes of Lester L. Norton, Joseph Herbert and William 
Davidson furnished the meeting places of the congregation. 
It was customary to have preaching services at irregular 
intervals, in a meeting continued two or three days. "The 
Millennial Harbinger," a church paper published by Thomas 
and Alexander Campbell, was read by the members, and 
from it they derived much instruction and inspiration. 

The congregation emerged from the house to house 
plan in 1845. In that year, under the pastoral care of Dr. 
William Poole, a modest, one-storied stone meeting house 
was erected on a lot donated by Joseph Herbert, situated 
on South alley, near Mountain allev, now Carnegie avenue. 
There were between forty and fifty members, who, by giv- 
ing tinte, materials and money, completed the house, which 
is said to have been worth at the time about $600. Less 
than $125 was given in cash. 

This stone church was occupied until 1874, when it 
was sold to the German Lutherans who have enlarged and 
remodeled it, and continue to worship in it. A new church 
was built in 1874 on the east side of Pittsburgh -street, on 
ground now occupied by the Dunn-Paine building. The 
dedicatory services were held September 13, 1874, the 
sermon being preached by Prof. C. L. Loos, of Bethany 
College. 

In 1897 the congregation sold the Pittsburgh street 
church property and proceeded to erect the beautiful and 
commodious sanctuary which it now occupies, completing it 
in 1898. It is of buff brick, modern in all its appointments, 
and stands in a commanding location, on the northwest 
corner of South Pittsburgh street and Library avenue. It 
was dedicated Sabbath, June 26, 1898, Rev. F. M. Rains, of 
Cincinnati, Secretary of the Foreign Missionary Society of 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 361 



the Christian church, having charge of the dedicatory ser- 
vices. 

Among those who ministered to the church as pastors 
and suppHes, up to 1880. we may mention the following: 
Chauncey Ward, Dr. Philip G. Young, Dr. William Poole, 
Bryson Pyatt, Jarnes Darsie, Judson Benedick, Lyman P. 
Streator, Leroy Norton, Samuel Fowler and Wesley Lari- 
mer. Not a few of the pioneer preachers of the denomina- 
tion have preached to the congregation here, and among 
them, at intervals, both Thomas Campbell and Alexander 
Campbell have addressed large and appreciative audiences. 
One of the above named preachers, Judson Benedick, was 
a lawyer, with a reputed income of $6,000 a year, who, 
nevertheless, went from place to place and preached for 
$500. He was a vigorous speaker, a keen debater, aggress- 
ive in his methods and unsparing in his self-denial. From 
1880 to the present time there have been seven pastors. 
Lewis B. Hyatt was pastor four years, J. F. Sloan four 
years, John F. McKee two years, Herbert Yeuell one year, 
Henry J. Seaman two years, William R. Warren six years. 
Charles M. Watson, the present pastor, took the pastoral 
charge in the summer of 1903. There were also several 
stated supplies — Douglas Dowling, R. A. Cutler and Wil- 
liam D. Cunningham. The church has a membership of 
almost 100, and is well organized and equipped for work. 
The ofificers at the present time are: Elders, J. R. Balsley, 
W. B. Minor, W. S. Schenck, H. H. Yarnell; deacons, C. 
D. Schell, J. L. Kurtz, J. L. Cans, J. M. McCormick, J. 
Robinson, H. Kurtz, W. H. Cottoni ; trustees. E. T. Nor- 
ton, Dr. S. S. Stahl, W. S. Schenck, R. Norris ; financial 
secretary, R. Norris ; treasurer. G. W. StaufTer ; church 
clerk, H. C. Norton. 

The congregation has a comfortable parsonage, 509 
Race street. 

CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. 

The beginning of this church as a separate parish dates 
from 1869. 



362 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

The Catholics of Fayette county had received clerical 
visits at intervals from an early day. For instance, Rev. 
Stephen Bodin visited them in 1807, Bishop Egan in 1811, 
Bishop Kendrick in 183-1, and at ot^^er times Rev. James 
Ambrose Stillinger, Rev. Father Gallitzin and others. On 
the occasion of his visit in 1831, Bishop Kendrick said of 
the Catholic people of this county that they "are to be pitied, 
being able only four times a year to enjoy the presence of 
a priest." In the summer of 1837 Rev. Michael Gallagher 
was appointed to take charge of the district, then "compris- 
ing the counties of Fayette. Greene and Washington and 
part of Somerset and Allegheny counties." He retired in 
1848, "followed by a long list of successors." During this 
period and for some years after, "no mass was said any 
closer to Connellsville than Uniontown," where sixteen 
Catholic families and forty-two communicants were re- 
ported at the Easter communion in 1856. 

The first celebration of the mass in Connellsville was 
held in 1856 by Rev. Malachi Garvey, in whose care Fayette 
and the eastern part of Greene and Washington counties 
had recently been placed as a mission. The service was 
held in the home of John O'Donnell, and the number attend- 
ing it "did not exceed half a dozen." From this time until 
the year 1869 the priest visited Connellsville about four 
times a year, celebrating the mass in private houses, most 
frequently in the homes of Edward Dean and James Mc- 
Grath. In the year namied. Rev. Robert Waters became 
resident pastor, and in 1871 the congregation purchased the 
old one-story stone house, southwest corner of Prospect 
street and Orchard alley, which had been originally a Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, but had for many years been used 
as a foundry. The house was fitted up as a place of wor- 
ship, and was consecrated by Bishop Domenec, of the dio- 
cese of Pittsburgh. 

Rev. Waters was followed by Rev. Edward Dignam, 
who, in 1884, began the building of a new church on the 
southwest corner of Prospect and Apple streets. His sue- 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 3QS 



cesser was Rev. C. A. McDermott, during whose pastorate 
the new church was completed. It was a large and impos- 
ing brick structure, Gothic in style, cruciform in shape, 115 
feet long by 80 feet wide in the transepts and fifty feet in 
the main, with a graceful spire and a handsome interior, 
and costing about $50,000. The dedicatory services were 
held by Rt. Rev. P. Phelan, Bishop of the diocese of Pitts- 
burgh, on Sabbath, May 22, 1887. Father McDermott was 
a devoted worker and a man of scholarly tastes and attain- 
ments. He was transferred to the cathedral in Pittsburgh,, 
and is at present in charge at McKeesport. 

He was succeeded by Rev. Daniel O'Connell, during 
whose pastorate the new church was destroyed by fire- 
Between 11 and 12 o'clock Friday night, January 22, 1892,, 
the church was found to be on fire. In a remarkably short 
time the whole interior was filled with the flames. Soon 
the lofty spire crumbled and fell into the street, and within 
a few hours the beautiful edifice was reduced to a heap of 
smoking ruins. 

The congregation, though deeply grieved, faced the 
situation with admirable courage. Services were held in 
the old stone house, which had of late been used as a 
parochial school, and to which a brick second story was 
added, and plans were at once formed for the erection of a 
new church. The ruins were cleared away. The framfe 
building on the northwest corner of Main and Prospect 
streets, which had been purchased from Capt. Lloyd John- 
ston a few years before for a convent, was moved to the 
site of the church that had been burned, and it was decided 
to erect the new building on the corner vacated by the re- 
moval. 

The excavation was made during Father O'Connell's 
pastorate, though the building was for a considerable time 
delayed. Rev. Francis Ale Court, on being appointed pas- 
tor of the church, let the contract, and the erection of the 
building went forward with energy. The stay of this pas- 
tor, however, was short. In November, 189G, he was taken 




THE FIVE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES OF CONNELLSVIHE AND NEW HAVEN 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 365 



ill with typhoid fever and was at once removed to Mercy 
Hospital, Pittsburgh, but before the month of November 
was gone he breathed his last. He was buried in Scranton, 
Pa., a few days before Thanksgiving. 

A thorough gentleman, a man of genial manners, of 
refined tastes, of liberal spirit and kind behavior. Father 
McCourt was deservedly popular, and his death was sin- 
cerely regretted by the whole community. 

Rev. John T. Burns, the present pastor, was trans- 
ferred from New Brighton, Pa., and took charge of the 
church here December 22, 1896. His faithful and abund- 
ant labors have been rewarded with success. The church 
was completed the following summer, and was dedicated 
by the Rt. Rev. P. Phelan, D. D., Bishop of the diocese of 
Pittsburgh, on Sabbath, the 13th of September, 1897. It 
cost about fifty thousand dollars, and under Father Burns, 
the entire indebtedness has been removed. The building 
occupies a commanding situation and presents a stately ap- 
pearance. It is 129 feet long and 65 feet wide, is of red 
brick, with stone trimmings, and is beautiful in its furnish- 
ings. The congregation now numbers not less than 400 
families, and has about 1,500 communicants. Its property 
occupies the entire block from Main street to Apple, and 
consists of the church, the parochial school, a rectory and 
a convent. The present church committee is composed of 
Joseph Soisson, Sr., James McGrath, John Dixon, Hugh 
Coll, Joseph Tippman, Joseph Aladigan, P. May and P. J. 
Tormay. 

ST. John's evangelical Lutheran church (german). 

In the spring of 1871 this congregation was organized 
by Rev. H. J. H. Lemcke, of West Newton. The following 
persons were prominent in the organization, as supporters 
of the enterprise, viz : Christian Snyder, Jacob Siller, John 
Hetzel, Sr., Conrad Otto, Heinrich Meister, John Wilhelm 
and Jacob Scheibel. The next year the congregation was 
united with Christ church, West Newton, constituting a 



366 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

parish with Rev. Mr. Lemcke as pastor, who conducted 
services in German and EngHsh every other Sabbath. 

The services were held at first in the old Odd Fellows' 
hall, but in 1874 the Disciples' church on South alley, a 
one-story stone building, was purchased for $3,000, and 
was fitted up for worship. Rev. Mr. Lemcke was released 
in February, 1877, going to the Lutheran church of Eliza- 
beth, Pa., and leaving behind him a membership of 40 com- 
municants. 

Rev. Philip Doerr served the church from May, 1877, 
to September, 1881. There were now 115 communicants. 

Rev. W. A. C. Mueller was called September, 1881,. 
and St. John's was constituted, at that time, a separate 
parish. During his pastorate, which closed in June, 1884, 
the communicant membership increased to 229. Rev. C. 

F. Tiemann, the next pastor, began his work about the first 
of July, 1884, and during his pastorate St. John's became 
an exclusively German church. He resigned in September, 
1889. He reported a membership of 400. Next came Rev. 

G. A. Firgau, who remained from September, 1889, to No- 
vember, 1892. Rev. Ph. Lamerdin took charge March 5, 
1893, and continued in charge about a year. He was pas- 
tor during a time of great industrial depression and labor 
agitation, and thinking to better the condition of his people, 
he led a colony of Germans to Wisconsin. The member- 
ship was reduced to 150. November 1st, 1894, Rev. 
L. O. Hammer was elected pastor, and was installed 
November 25th by Rev. Philip Doerr. He was 
active, faithful and successful in his work, strengthening 
the church and increasing the membership to 300. He re- 
signed in March, 1897. Rev. G. L. Lohman took charge in 
April, 1897, and was installed in June by the Revs. D. M. 
Kemerer and F. W. E. Peschau, D. D. In the spring of 
1901 a new church building was decided upon, and on Sep- 
tember 4th the cornerstone was laid with appropriate ser- 
vices, in which the pastor was assisted by Revs. F. W. 
Kohler,. D. M. Kemerer and J. C. Kunzman. The structure 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 367 



was completed in the summer of 1902, and was dedicated in 
August of that year. It stands on the old site, the side 
stone walls of the old church being retained. An addition 
of l-i feet in front, and about 10 feet in the rea rwas made. 
Two corner towers, one of which is surmounted by a spire 
bearing a large gilt cross, and contains two large bells 
which were dedicated on Pentecost, 1902. The whole 
church is 44x60 feet in size, and is built of red and yellow 
pressed brick. The cost, with furnishing, was about $15,- 
000. Rev. Lohman was released in October, 1904. 

Rev. George Dietz entered upon his work as pastor of 
St. John's in February, 1905. He has been faithful and 
devoted in the discharge of his duties, and the church has 
been blessed with harmony and growth under his ministry. 
He is the present pastor. 

In Rev. Mueller's time the parsonage, a frame build- 
ing beside the church, was purchased ; in Rev. Hammer's 
time the debt on the parsonage was removed, and in Rev. 
Lohman's time the house was enlarged and greatly im- 
proved. A frame school house, 24 feet square, was built 
in the rear of the parsonage in 1901. 

The congregation has a Sabbath school, a Ladies' Aid 
Society and other auxiliary organizations. It has a com- 
municant membership at present of 500, many of whom 
come for miles in order to attend the services. 

THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

The United Presbyterian church of Connellsville was 
organized October, 2, 1876, by commissioners appointed by 
the Westmoreland Presbytery. Ten persons were received 
as charter members, viz : A. H. Patterson, M. M. Patter- 
son, James Parkhill, Kell Long, Nancy Patterson, Louisa 
Parkhill, Mary Moreland, Jennie Moreland, from the Laurel 
Hill U. P. church ; and John C. Graham and Mary J. Gra- 
ham from the Buena Vista U. P. church. A. H. Patterson 
and John C. Graham were elected elders. Their ordination 
and installation took place October 30, 1876. 



368 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

For more than seven years the church services were 
held in Reisinger's Hall (Main street), the Odd Fellows' 
Hall, and in the New Haven school house. Rev. Robert B. 
Taggart served as stated supply until early in 1877, fol- 
lowed by Revs. Alexander R. Rankin, Thos. P. Patterson, 
James A. Brandon and others in the same capacity. The 
first regularly installed pastor was Rev. David F. Mustard, 
who served from June 9, 1885, until July 1, 1886. Rev. 
James A. Brandon was then called. He did not accept the 
call to the pastorate, but labored as stated supply for about 
a year. 

Rev. John H. Gibson was the next pastor, continuing 
as such from September 6, 1887, to December 18, 1894. 
The church was served by supplies from the latter date 
until the latter part of 1898, when Rev. W. R. Lawrence 
took charge and remained until the autumn of 1902. A 
period of discouragement followed. Services were held 
irregularly. Some members of the Presbytery advised the 
withdrawal of the financial aid which the church had 
hitherto received from the Board of Home Missions. The 
people persevered, however, in the work, manifesting great 
patience, faith and hopefulness. 

November 32, 1903, Rev. J. J. Huston, D. D., entered 
upon the pastoral care of the church. At his installation 
Rev. J. A. Douthett preached, and Rev. H. W. Millen and 
Elder Gill made the customary addresses. 

Dr. Huston, still pastor, has been prospered in the 
work. The congregation has been largely increased in mem- 
bership, and is united, active and greatly encouraged. The 
church has become self-sustaining, no longer asking or re- 
ceiving financial aid from the denominational Board, and 
contributes its full quota to all the Boards. A Woman's 
Missionary Society has been formed. The Sabbath school 
has grown rapidly, and has a large membership. Its offer- 
ings have greatly increased. The Young People's Union 
has been organized and is doing a good work. 

In 1884 the present house of worship was erected at a 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 369 



cost of about $5,000. It stands on ground purchased from 
Mrs. James Blackstone, North Pittsburgh street, facing 
Pulaski. James Long, deceased, an elder in the Laurel Hill 
United Presbyterian church, was a generous contributor 
to the Connellsville church, and it was largely through his 
liberality that the church was enabled in 1903 to secure the 
present substantial and commodious parsonage. It is a 
brick building, 415 Johnston avenue, and was purchased 
from David B. Evans for $5,000, of which Mr. Long gave 
$3,000. 

The present officers are: Rev. J. J. Huston, D. D., 
pastor ; elders, John McKesson, ordained and installed 
March 5, 1890 ; R. A. Hamilton, December 3, 1898 ; W. E. 
Shaw and Dr. J. French Kerr, December 4, 1904; trustees, 
Kell Long, J. A. McKesson, Albert H. Long, D. P. Patter- 
son, W. H. Fairlamb and J. A. Wilson. 

TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

Trinity church is one of the youngest of the religious 
forces of Connellsville, its beginnings dating back to the 
summer of 1884, when a little company of earnest people 
gathered in the home of B. F. Boyts, and discussed the ad- 
visability of organizing a church of Reformation faith. 
For a number of years Lutherans had been coming to Con- 
nellsville seeking homes, but never in such numbers as to 
warrant the establishment of a church. The more loyal 
of these newcomers, after the year 1871, interested them- 
selves in the English Lutheran Sunday school, conducted 
by a Mr. Wentzler, in the St. John's German church at 9 
o'clock every Sunday morning. Many of the English 
speaking children of the community found a delight in at- 
tending this Sunday school, and still speak of its services 
as a pleasant memory. The first pastors of the German 
church were very favorably disposed toward the English 
work, and gave it the fullest encouragement. The coming 
of larger numbers of strict Germans into the community, 
however, changed conditions and the English speaking 



370 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Lutherans found it the part of wisdom to secure a church 
of their own. 

The Somerset County Conference of the Alleghany 
Synod was appealed to, and Rev. J. F. Shearer, then pastor 
of Trinity church of Somerset, Pa., after one or two pre- 
liminary visits, organized them into a regular congregation 
September 16, 1884. Only nine persons signed the peti- 
tion to the Court for a charter, so that the charter member- 
ship includes only that number, but fully thirty other de- 
voted Lutherans were affiliated with the movement from 
the beginning. ' 

This organization was effected in Goodchild's store- 
room on North Pittsburgh street, where services were held 
for some time. Mr. B. F. Eoyts was greatly interested in 
the young church, and acted sometimes as a janitor and 
man-of-all-work in order to help along the cause. He was 
elected the first treasurer of the organization, and has held 
the position with praiseworthy fidelity to the present time. 

The Board of Home Missions of the Evangelical Luth- 
eran church was asked for help and responded very lib- 
erally. With this help Rev. L. L. Sieber was secured as 
pastor and served the church from December 1, 188L to 
September 1, 1890. During his pastorate the place of hold- 
ing services was changed to the Newmyer Opera House, 
then to Newcomer's Hall, and finally to the chapel of the 
present church building on East Apple street. 

The lot for this building was purchased July 28, 1885, 
for $3,700. The work of building was begun the follow- 
ing spring; the cornerstone was laid in June, 1886, Rev. 
W. W. Criley, D. D., conducting the service ; the chapel 
was dedicated March 6, 1887, Rev. F. W. Conrad, D. D., 
preaching the dedicatory sermon. The whole building was 
placed under roof, but only the chapel was used for services 
for a ' number of years. The congregation was weak, a 
debt of $7,800 was left upon the building, and the people 
felt unable to complete it at the time. 

The second pastor was Rev. U. A. Hankey, who served 




THE THRKE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCHES OF CONNELLSVILLE 



372 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLL 

from May 1, 1891, to December 1, 1894. Under his min- 
istry the congregation grew in numbers, and confidence was 
estabHshed in its success. All bills were promptly paid 
and seven hundred dollars were paid on the debt. 

Just when the church seemed to be gathering her 
strength for a forward movement, sickness compelled the 
pastor to resign. The third and present pastor is Rev. 
ElHs B. Burgess, who entered the field May 30, 1895. Dur- 
ing the summer of that year the church was completed. It 
was dedicated by Rev. A. S. Hartman, D. D., Rev. John 
Weidley, D. D., Rev. U. A. Hankey, Rev. J. W. Poffinber- 
ger and the pastor, amid great rejoicing, December 8, 1895. 
The church, with the lot, has cost over $20,000, and is now 
free of debt. 

The church became self-supporting May 27, 1900, and 
today has a confirmed membership of 535. The church has 
had a Pentecostal growth during the past two years, more 
than 200 persons having been added to its membership in 
that time. The Sunday School has a total enrollment of 
more than three hundred. In addition to these, there is a 
Home Department of 180 members and a Cradle Roll of 69 
members. 

The Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, 
organized in 1893, has 84 members, and is doing excellent 
service. The Ladies' Aid Society was organized soon after 
the beginning of the church, and has raised thousands of 
dollars for its local support. In the dark days of her his- 
tory the preservation of the church was credited under God 
to the devotion of these women. 

There is a Senior and Junior Y. P. S. C. E. in connec- 
tion with the church. Trinity Circle of King's Daughters 
is another active organization that has done much under 
the excellent leadership of Miss Mary Brickman to build 
up the spiritual and benevolent work of the congregation. 

THE SLOVAK LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

St. Peter's Slovak, Lutheran church was organized in 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 373 



the year 1895, by the Rev. C. L. Orbach, of Braddock, Pa. 
Services were held for about ten years in a two-story brick 
dwelHng, formerly known as the Enos house, No. 210 Easi 
Main street, the first floor being remodeled and made into 
a suitable hall. 

The present pastor. Rev. Martin Tomaska, took charge 
of the congregation and of the mission field in 1897. The 
congregation is composed of working people, chiefly miners 
and coke workers. They are scattered through the coke 
region from Tarr to Fairchance, and westward as far as 
Jacob's Creek. 

In 1905-6 the congregation erected a neat and conven- 
ient house of worship on Porter avenue, a short distance 
from South Pittsburgh street, costing $10,000. There are 
about 750 communicant members. Through the summer 
from twenty-five to thirty-five children attend the parochial 
school connected with this church. 

The present pastor serves three other charges, one at 
Irwin, one at Spangler, Cambria county, one at Grassflat, 
Clearfield county, and holds services at Uniontown, Mt. 
Pleasant, Greensburg and other points. 

THE SOUTH SIDE BAPTIST CHURCH. 

This church was constituted in the early part of 1897. 
For some time the services were held in the Odd Fellows' 
Hall, Main street. A lot was purchased in 1898 from the 
heirs of John T. Hogg, deceased, the deed for which is 
dated June 7, 1898. The lot is on the southwest corner of 
South Pittsburgh street and Morton avenue. The present 
well-built and well-arranged brick church was erected in 
1901. The dedicatory services were held February 2, 1902. 
Rev. J. T. Morgan, of Cleveland, O., preached in the fore- 
noon, a fraternal service was held in the afternoon, and 
Rev. Mr. Lucher preached in the evening. The present 
pastor is Rev. Lin M. Jaco. 

TRINITY REFORMED CHURCH. 

The organization of this church was effected in Odd 



374 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Fellows' Hall, East Main street, on the 22nd day of Janu- 
ary, 1899, with 22 members. It was under the supervision 
of Rev. Dewalt S. Fouse, D. D., Superintendent of the Gen- 
eral Synod's Board of Home Missions of the Reformed 
Church in the United States. 

Rev. Andrew J. Heller, D. D., by the authority and 
under the direction of the Board of Missions, had prepared 
the way for the founding of the congregation, and he was' 
subsequently, on the 5th day of March, 1899, installed pas- 
tor of the congregation, by a committee of Westmoreland 
Classis, consisting of Revs. E. D. Meixell and H. S. Garner. 
The first consistory was composed of William M. Ankeny, 
elder, and Solomon Lepley and J. S. Miller, deacons. The 
congregation received its charter from the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas of Fayette county, August 12, 1899. The con- 
gregation worshipped in Odd Fellows' Hall until December 
1, 1899. Its house of worship, erected on the northeast 
corner of Pittsburgh and Green streets, was dedicated Janu- 
ary 1st, 1900. Rev. Thos. S. Land, of Manor, Pa., preached 
the sermon. Revs. E. D. Meixell, of Scottdale; D. A. Sou- 
ders, of Irwin; J. H. Mickley, of Johnstown, and H. S. 
Garner, of Greensburg, were present and took part in the 
service. Dr. Heller is still pastor. The present consistory 
consists of the following: ' Elders, Wm. M. Ankeny, Rus- 
sell "K. Smith and B. F. Rudolph; deacons, O. Stanley 
Gettys, Chas. A. Purbaugh and Chas. A. Burton. 

This church has a fine location, and has encouraging 
prospects. Valuable aid has been given in the work of the 
church by the Young Peoples' Society, the Women's Mis- 
sionary Society and the Sabbath School. 

THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH. 

The denomination to which this congregation belongs 
adopted, at its Conference in 1800, the name. United Breth- 
ren in Christ. The congregation in Connellsville was or- 
ganized in the month of January, 1901, in a vacant store 
room on South Pittsburgh street, between Baldwin an;l 




1. THR TRINITY REFORMED CHURCH 
- THE SOUTH SIDE BAPTIST CHURCH 



3. THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH 

4. THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 



376 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Crawford avenues. The charter members, nine in number, 
were L. H. Fitzmeier, H. W. Bridegum, J. Smith Detwiler, 
James Sivits, P. C. Stillwagon, EHzabeth Fitzmeier, Emma 
Bridegum, Lorena Detwiler and Rosa Sivits. The first 
official Board was as follows : Trustees, L. H. Fitzmeier, 
H. W. Bridegum, J. S. Detwiler and James Sivits. The 
presiding elder of the West District of Allegheny Confer- 
ence, Rev. L. W. Stahl, appointed J. K. Huey to serve as 
pastor until the next annual conference, September, 1901. 

In the summer of 1901 the trustees purchased ground 
on the southwest corner of Crawford avenue and Race 
street, with a view of building a church thereon. 

During Rev. Huey's pastorate of less than eight months 
the congregation had encouraging growth, a membership 
of 51 being reported to the annual Conference. Rev. J. H. 
Pershing, D. D., was appointed at that Conference, and 
served one year, during which time 12 new members were 
added to the church. The property on the corner of Craw- 
ford avenue and Race street was sold to the Steam Laun- 
dry Co. in the spring of 1902, and two lots were purchased 
on the north side of Crawford avenue, facing Race street. 
The erection of the present church and parsonage was be- 
gun early in the summer of 1902, and the work was com- 
pleted in January, 1903. The church contains an audito- 
rium, 31: by 46 feet, and a Sabbath School room underneath, 
.34 by 25. The parsonage is connected with the church, 
has six rooms and a reception hall. The whole structure 
is of brick, occupies a conspicuous position and cost about 
$10,000. 

Rev. W. V. Barnhart, the present pastor, was appointed 
by Conference September, 1902, and took charge at once. 
On its completion the church was dedicated the first Sab- 
bath of February, 1903. The dedicatory service was con- 
ducted by Rev. W. R. Funk, D. D., of Dayton, Ohio, Pub- 
lishing Agent of the denomination, assisted by the pastor 
and by Rev. S. W. Keister, of Mount Pleasant, Pa., at that 
time the presiding elder of the district. 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 377 



During 1905 a successful effort was made to remove 
the debt of the church, and a thanksgiving service was held 
Sabbath, September 17, 1905, to celebrate the happy achieve- 
ment. The two former pastors were present, Rev. Huey 
preaching in the morning and Dr. Pershing in the evening. 
The presiding elder, S. W. Keister, and one of the local 
ministers, were also present, and assisted in the services. 
At the close of the evening service the pastor called the trus- 
tees to the platform and while they stood in a half circle 
about him he burned the mortgage with red fire, after which 
the large audience joined heartily in the Long Metre dox- 
ology. The membership is above 250 at the present time. 
The present Board of Trustees consists of the following per- 
sons : H. W. Bridegum, president ; L. H. Fitzmeier, sec- 
retary; A. S. Ridenour, treasurer; J. L. Sisley, John F. 
Kooser, J. S. Detwiler and James Kiddie. 

MOUNT CARMEL ITALIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

This congregation was established in the early part of 
l903, through the energetic and self-sacrificing efforts of 
Rev. Carmine Fienelli, the first pastor. A convenient and 
neat frame church was built and dedicated within a few 
months. It is located on Baldwin avenue, near Carnegie 
avenue. On Wednesday evening, Dec. 23, 1903, Father 
Fienelli lost his life in the wreck of the Duquesne Limited 
train on the B. and O. railroad at Laurel Run, below Daw- 
son. He was returning from Pittsburgh, where he had 
been buying gifts, decorations and sweetmeats for a chil- 
dren's entertainment on Christmas. He was buried in the 
Catholic cemetery in Connellsville. The present pastor is 
Rev. Joseph diSabato, who serves a large and growing con- 
gregation. 

ST. EMORY HUNGARIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

In January, 1903, steps were taken for the establish- 
ment of a church for the Hungarian or Magyar Catholics 
of this vicinity, by Peter Rutsek, of Connellsville, and Emorv 
Brutoczki, of Adelaide, Pa. Bishop Phelan, of the diocese 



378 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

of Pittsburgh, gave permission for the calUng of a priest 
August 18, 1903. Accordingly, Rev. Adalbert Lorick, of 
Budapest, Hungary, was called September 20, 1903. Rev. 
Lorick accepted the call, arrived in Connellsville March 31, 
1904, and was received into the Pittsburgh diocese April 1, 
190-i. The congregation was organized by Rev. Lorick 
May 8, 1904, and the building of the church was begun 
August 1, 1904. The cornerstone was laid October 9, 1904. 
The church was dedicated July 16, 1905. It is a one-story 
brick structure on Arch street, north of Porter avenue. It 
has a spire surmounted by a cut glass Mosaic cross. The 
"blessing of the bells" took place on Sabbath, June 3, 1906. 
Eight societies from as many places paraded the streets, 
and an impressive service was held in the church, after 
which the procession formed again and went to the new 
Hungarian cemetery, where the prayers of the congregation 
were offered for the dead. There are two bells, one of 
which bears the name of St. Emory, the other St. George. 
The cemetery ground adjoins Chestnut Hill cemetery, and 
was purchased April 8, 1906. The congregation is com- 
posed of about 130 Hungarian families living at different 
points in Fayette and Westmoreland counties, with about 
800 members. 

THE CHURCH OF GOD ( WINEBRENNARIAN) . 

This, the youngest church at the present time in the 
borough, was established March, 1905. Meetings were 
held for several months in the homes of the members. A 
one-story fraiTijC house of worship was built on the north- 
west corner of Murphy avenue and Park street. There is 
a membership of about fifty. The Sabbath school has an 
average attendance of 60, and there are 18 members in the 
Christian Endeavor Society. The congregation is hopeful 
and active. The first pastor was Rev. Sylvester Fulmer, 
serving from March to October, 1905. The second pastor 
was Rev. Jonathan S. Boyd, from October, 1905, to Octo- 
ber, 1906. The present pastor is Rev. David A. Stevens, 
who took charge in October, 1906. 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 379 



SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE CHURCHES. 

Several church organizations have existed in former 
days in what was formerly called White Rock or Gibson^ 
but now called South Connellsville, a comparatively exten- 
sive suburb of the borough of Connellsville. About 1878 a 
United Brethren organization was formed and services were 
held in the school house, the only public building at the time 
in the community. This work was directed successively by 
Revs. Lane, Stahl and Workman, but was discontinued in 
or about the year 1883. 

Five or six years later a revival occurred in connection 
with services held by local workers, and resulted in the for- 
mation of a religious society known as "Christ's Gospel 
Union," and the erection of a frame house of worship on 
Pittsburgh street, nearly opposite the Gibson school house. 
This work was also discontinued after a few years. The 
building was leased by a White Rock Methodist Protestant 
mission in 1891, in charge of Rev. A. R. Seaman, who was 
followed by Rev. John E. Allgood, at the close of whose ad- 
ministration in 1895 or 1896 the work ceased. 

In May, 1897, the Welsh United Congregational church 
was organized with thirty members. Rev. R. A. Morgan 
became the pastor, with the following deacons: Benjamin 
T. Williams, secretary ; Thos. Jones, treasurer ; Griffith 
Thomas, Wm. Rees, Wm. Evans and Joshua J. Evans. In 
November, 1901, Rev. R. A. Alorgan left, and a call was 
given Rev. Richard Powell. Mr. Powell accepted the call, 
and took charge March 9, 1902, the church built by the 
"Gospel Union" having been secured for the services of the 
congregation. Under the faithful labors of this pastor, cor- 
dially assisted by the officers and members, the membership 
increased until it reached 80. The church has a Sabbath 
School, a Ladies' Aid Society, a Christian Endeavor Societv 
and a Band of Willing Workers. The work goes on with 
earnestness, though the long shut-down of the tin mill, in 
which most of the male nuembers of the congregation have 
been employed, has occasioned great loss. The services are- 
in both Welsh and Engflish. 



:880 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

The Evangelical Church is another organization at 
work in the same field, dating from 1898 when Rev. E. E. 
Crouse, the first pastor, was sent by the annual Conference. 
Joseph Soisson, of Connellsville, presented the church with 
a lot on Wine street, east of Pittsburgh for a house of wor- 
ship. The cornerstone was laid in March, 1900, and the 
building was completed and opened for service in July of 
the same year. The annual Conference met in the church 
the following September, at which time the church was made 
a station, and Rev. W. E. Bassett was appointed pastor. 
He served the congregation until September, 1902, when 
Rev. W. H. McLaughlin was appointed to the work, serv- 
ing until September, 1905, when Rev. W. E. Bassett was 
returned and is now pastor. The church has been pros- 
pered, and the membership has reached 200. A Woman's 
Missionary Society helps in the education of a student in 
the Bible Woman's Training School, Tokio, Japan, and in 
other work of the Missionary Board. The Young People's 
Alliance numbers 65 members. The officers of the church 
are: W. E. Bassett pastor; S. S. Kern, W. S. Ringer, 
John Trombly, trustees ; Ira Miller, John Hartman, George 
Hartman, stewards. 



NEW HAVEN CHURCHES. 

TRINITY PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

In the first part of this chapter, we have given some ac- 
count of this congregation when its services were held in 
Connellsville. In the year 1832 the present house of wor- 
ship was built on the corner of Main and Fifth streets. New 
Haven, and opened for public worship. The date of the 
formal organization of the church is not positively known, 
but the erection of the meeting house put the work upon a 
more substantial basis than it had hitherto had, and its dedi- 
cation was doubtless an occasion of great interest and satis- 
faction to the congreeration. 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 381 



The ground was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Rog- 
ers, who, in addition, contributed liberally to the building. 
A beautiful memorial window has been placed in the church 
in memory of Mrs. Rogers' kindly gifts and deeds. Later 
James Mcllvaine presented a church bell and a large brick 
dwelling house for a rectory. The rectory is located on 
Fourth street, south of Main. Still later, a chapel or Sab- 
bath School building was added to the church by Dr. and 
Mrs. Ellis Phillips as a memorial of a deceased child. 
Through a legacy from the late James Mcllvaine, "the 
parish enjoys the benefit of two endowments." 

In recent years the congregation has sustained heavy 
losses in the removal of many of the old and honored fami- 
lies whose names had long been associated with the work 
of the church, among them the Hogs::, Phillips. Wharton, 
McCormick, Gutelius and Gibson families. Since the build- 
ing of the Xew Haven church, the following ministers have 
had charge: Revs. Silas Freeman, J. J. Kerr, J. J. Mc- 
Elhinney, Wm. Arnott, Kensey Johns Stewart, whose con- 
nection with educational work has been spoken of in our 
chapter on the schools ; Edward Walker, Wm. J. Hilton, 
N. M. Jones, Samuel Cowell, J. G. Furey, H. T. Wilcoxon, 
Geo. Hall, C. X. Quick, Faber Billesby, Richard S. Smith, 
G. C. Rafter, J. H. McCandless, S. S. Chevers, G. W. Eas- 
ter, Timothy O'Connell, W. G. Stonex, J. L. Taylor, J. T. 
Hargreaves and T. S. Cartwright, D. D. 

After ten years of laborious work. Dr. Cartwright was 
released October 1. 190G, and returned to England, the land 
of his birth and early ministry. The church has not as yet 
secured a rector in his stead. The vestrymen at present 
are : George A. Torrence, William Sansom, John B. Frost, 
Joseph S. Bryner. Earl Vanatta, George N. Woods and 
Wade E. Hews. Of these persons, George A. Torrence 
and William Sansom are wardens. Earl Vanatta secretary 
and John B. Frost treasurer. A Sabbath School and sev- 
eral auxiliary societies have been in existence for many 
years. 











THE THREE PROTESTANT CHURCHES OF NEW HAVEN 
1. TRINITY EPISCOPAL 2. MOUNT ZION BAPTIST 3. A. M. E ZION 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 383 



Members of the African race came into this region 
with the first settlers. For the most part they came as 
servants or slaves, with the people from Virginia, Mary- 
land and even from Eastern Pennsylvania, slavery being 
still in existence in Pennsylvania. In the Act for the grad- 
ual abolition of slavery in Pennsylvania, passed by the As- 
sembly in 1780, the provisions were such that as late as 
1840 sixty-four slaves were still living in the State. Among 
the first settlers who held slaves were Col. William Crawford 
and his brother Valentine, Providence Mounts and Isaac 
Meason. The registers show that Zachariah Council had 
two slaves, and that a Presbyterian minister, Rev. James 
Finley, of Rehoboth and Round Hill, had eight, to whose 
religious welfare he gave much attention, and for whose 
future support he made provision in his will. The colored 
people attended service, as a rule, with the whites, and in 
some cases were members of the same religious organiza- 
tions. In the Redstone circuit of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, in 1790, there were 334 whites and six colored. In 
1800 there were eight colored members in that circuit ; in 
1810, there were 16. In later years the colored people be- 
gan holding meetings of their own. They held them often 
in the Quaker Graveyard school house, and often in the old 
White school house in New Haven. At a meeting of the 
Connellsville School Board, April 11, 1859, a request was 
made by the colored people for permission "to hold meet- 
ings for Christian worship" in the Pinnacle school house. 
The request was granted, on condition that "the meetings 
be- held on the Lord's day in the day time." There are no 
colored churches in Connellsville. There are two, however, 
at the present time in New Haven. 

THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

This congregation was constituted in Mathiot's hall. 
New Haven, in the year 1878. A few years later ground 
Avas purchased from George A. Markle, and a neat one- 
story frame house of worship was erected on it. It stands 
■on the north side of Main street, between Sixth and Sev- 



384 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

enth, and has a bell and vestibule. The name, Payne 
Chapel, was given it in memory of the late Bishop D. A. 
Payne. The building was dedicated in 1884 by Rev. J. J. 
Jones. The first pastor was Rev. Charles Herbert, and the 
first Board of Trustees was composed of the following 
persons : Wm. Sturling, Jesse Freeman, Jacob Johnson, 
Alex. Davis and Abraham White. The present pastor is 
Rev. William N. Young, who took charge of the church in 
October, 1903. The present trustees are: T. H. Brown, 
S. R. McNeal, A. J. Taylor, Chas. Ashbury, Calvin Wash- 
ington, John Poindexter, Burrel Mills, S. Drew, M. O. 
Hunter. 

THE MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH (aFRICAN). 

This church was organized in Connellsville in the year 
1883, by Rev. J. C. Robinson, a Baptist missionary, who 
served the church about three months. The charter mem- 
bers were twelve in number. Upon Rev. Robinson's retire- 
ment from the field, Rev. T. H. Ford, of Washington, D. C, 
was installed pastor. Mcllvaine Hall, corner Main and 
First streets, New Haven, was rented and in it worship 
was held several years. A lot was then purchased for $400 
on Fourth street, near Trader's alley, New Haven, and a 
frame church erected at a cost of $2,000. Rev. Ford's pas- 
torate was seven years in length. He was followed by Rev. 
P. H. Thompson, of Nelson county, Va., who remained with 
the congregation four years. During his stay the entire 
debt of the church was paid. Rev. R. D. Epps, B. D., of 
Harrisburg, Pa., became the next pastor. He has continued 
in this position to the present time, having faithfully labored 
for ten years, and during his pastorate the congregation has 
had encouraging growth. W. L. Corbin is the church clerk. 

ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST SLOVAK CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

This congregation of Slovak people was organized Oc- 
tober 4, 1895. A one-story brick church building, occupied 
at one time by a United Brethren congregation that had 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 385 



disbanded, and situated on the corner of Seventh street and 
Trader's alley, New Haven, was bought, remodeled and 
used as a house of worship for several years. Rev. R. 
Wider was the first minister. He came from Silesia, and 
took charge at the time of the organization of the church. 
He died February, 1897, and was buried in the cemetery of 
the church, on the Leisenring road, near Trotter. A beau- 
tiful monument was erected over his grave. July 4, 1906, 
by the Catholic Union, the congregation and other friends. 
Rev. E. E. Gellhof, the present pastor, took charge 
April, 1897. The Seventh street church becoming too 
small for the large and increasing congregation, lots were 
purchased on the corner of Main and Eighth streets, and 
the present beautiful and commodious church was built. It 
is of brick, is splendidly furnished, and is two-storied. The 
corner stone was laid on Thanksgiving day, 1899, and the 
church was dedicated one year later. Thanksgiving day, 
1900, with imposing ceremonies. Rt. Rev. Hapde, Bishop 
of South Carolina, preached in English ; Rt. Rev. Nepomuk 
Jager, Abbott of Bohemian Benedictine Fathers of Chicago, 
preached in Slavish. A chime of bells, costing $1,600. was 
dedicated Thanksgiving day, 1902 ; candelabra costing 
$1,300, Thanksgiving day, 1904; and a pipe organ, costing 
$3,500, Thanksgiving day, 1905. Andrew Carnegie gave 
$1,500 toward the purchase of the pipe organ. The church, 
with its furnishings, cost about $50,000. The Seventh 
street property was sold to the Polish Catholic church. 
There are in all about 500 families connected with the con- 
gregation, scattered all the way from Ohio Pyle to Layton, 
many living as far as Springfield on one side and the Leisen- 
rings on the other. The national societies have 900 memi- 
bers, and the Catholic Slovak Union 1.000. A comfortable 
parsonage is on Main street, close to the church. 

THE POLISH CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

This church was organized in 1903, and worships in 
the one-story brick building purchased that year from the 



386 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Slovak Catholic congregation. It is located on the corner 
of Seventh street and Trader's alley. In the front of the 
church is a tablet with Polish words painted thereon. 
These words, translated into English, constitute the corpo- 
rate name of the organization : "Church of the Holy Trin- 
ity." A parochial school house stands next to the church 
on the west, and a parsonage stands next to the school 
house. Both school and parsonage are two-storied frame 
buildings. 

The first pastor, Rev. Krapinski, served the church two 
years. The second and present pastor, Rev. Lunawski, has 
been in charge one year; 180 families are connected with 
the congregation. They are from Austrian and Russian 
Poland, and are an intelligent, industrious, law-abiding peo- 
ple. They are chiefly employed as miners and coke workers 
in the region roundabout, but an increasing number buy 
homes and small farms, having for the most part been 
peasant farmers in their native land. 

THE YOUNG MEN's CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF CONNELLS- 
VILLE. 

Pennsylvania was the first state in the Union to em- 
ploy a State Secretary' in Y. M. C. A. work. The first man 
to occupy that position was the Rev. Samuel A. Taggart, 
and Connellsville was one of the first places visited by him 
in his official capacity. This visit was made in 1871, though 
no organization was effected for a number of years after- 
ward. After repeated but unsuccessful attempts, the pres- 
ent organization was formed in 1893. On March 6th of 
that year a meeting was held in the Presbyterian church, at 
which it was decided to start an Association, and members 
were received. At a meeting in Kilpatrick's hall, held the 
next day, the following officers were elected: Col. James M. 
Reid, Kell Long, David B. Evans, George B. Brown, N. B. 
Sproat and Charles M. Hyatt, trustees; and James L. Paull, 
John Adams, Jr., Lin F. Ruth, B. F. Boyts, D. K. Artman, 
J. M. Kurtz, E. B. Cameron, J. L. Cans, H. C. Norton, W. 




THE YOUNG MKN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION BUILDING 

(Opened in 1906) 



388 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

H. Hugns, E. W. Horner, J.-M. Sembower, E. D. Turner, 
Dr. H. F. Atkinson and L. S. Lincoln, directors. The 
Board of Directors organized March 8, by electing James 
L. Paull president, E. W. Horner first vice president and 
Dr. H. F. Atkinson second vice president, H. C. Norton sec- 
retary, and Lin F. Ruth treasurer. In the month of March 
the Association purchased the property of Capt. Thomas M. 
Fee, corner Pittsburgh street and Fairview avenue, at an 
approximate cost of $4,000. The dwelling house on the 
property was remodeled and occupied as headquarters, with 
K. Clifford Seip as General Secretary. In less than a year 
the work was suspended, and after a time the building was 
rented. The organization was kept intact, and interest did 
not wholly die, but four years passed before the work was 
resumjed. During those four years a part of the frontage 
on Pittsburgh street was sold to L. W. Wolf, and the pro- 
ceeds were applied to the reduction of the debt. 

The annual Convention of the Associations of the Third 
Pennsylvania district was held in Connellsville, December, 
1898, and immediately after the convention S. M. Bard, 
then State Secretary, and E. B. Buckalew, his assistant, 
gave valuable aid in reviving the work. Rooms were se- 
cured in the Masonic building and C. Edgar Reed, of Erie, 
was appointed General Secretary. He took charge Janu- 
ary 9, 1899, and continued with the Association until Octo- 
ber 31, 1906, with the exception of about a year, during 
which H. A. Bricker, of Williamsport, Pa., filled the posi- 
tion. April 20, 1899, the Association moved to the second 
and third floors of the Kilpatrick building, 107 East Main 
street. Four years later the Main street building having 
been sold, and the purchaser wishing immediate possession, 
it was decided to inaugurate a movement to secure an As- 
sociation building. An office was rented on the second floor 
of the Weihe building, and a canvass made to secure funds 
for building purposes. Subscriptions to the amount of 
$13,140 were secured. In the autumn of 1903 the work of 
excavation had begtm, but it was not until 1905 that the 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 389 



building was erected. In the summer of 1906 it was com- 
pleted. The property is valued at $50,000, and the present 
home of the Association is regarded as one of the best build- 
ings of the kind in the State outside the cities. It is of buff 
brick, and is three stories in height. On the first floor are 
two store rooms ; on the second floor, a reception hall, read- 
ing rooms, committee rooms, boys' rooms, offices, parlors 
and a lecture room seating 300 persons ; on the third floor, 
four class rooms, ten dormitories and janitor's living apart- 
ments ; while in the basement are bath rooms, a swimming 
pool, 12x30 feet, and a large and finely equipped gymna- 
sium. 

The officers of the Board during the erection of the 
building were : E. W. Horner president since 1898, Joseph 
McConnell first vice president, James C. Long second vice 
president, James M. Cecil recording secretary, and H. L. 
Douglas treasurer. Dr. G. W. Gallagher was chairman of 
the building committee. 

August 21:, 1906, the following persons were chosen 
and constitute the present Board of Directors : Worth Kil- 
patrick president. Dr. G. W. Gallagher first vice president. 
Joseph McConnell second vice president, James C. Long 
secretary, H. L. Douglas treasurer, I. C. Smutz. E. W. Hor- 
ner, Eugene T. Norton, W. N. Leche, John A. Armstrong, 
E. R. Floto, J. L. Kurtz, A. S. Silcox, J. Wilbert Brown 
and John Curry. The trustees are: Col. J. M. Reid, Kell 
Long, H. M. Kerr, Worth Kilpatrick, W. H. Hugus and W. 
S. Schenck. Before the close of the former Board's term 
of service, Mr. C. Edgar Reed tendered his resignation as 
General Secretary, the resignation to take effect October 31, 
1906. It was accepted by the Board with sincere regret. 

On Thursday evening, August 30, a Business Men's 
dinner was given in the hall of the new Association building, 
attended by about 150 of the business men of the commu- 
nity. Hon. James A. Beaver, one of the judges of the Su- 
perior Court of Pennsylvania, was the guest of honor, and 
made the principal address, speaking of the claims of the 



390 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Y. M. C. A. from a business standpoint. A resolution was 
adopted providing for a debt-raising campaign in the month 
of September, subscriptions to be secured for $30,000, the 
amount needed to pay off the entire indebtedness, and pro- 
vide in part for the expenses of the coming year, and all 
subscriptions to be conditioned upon the whole amount being 
raised before September 30, 1906. Fifteen leaders were 
appointed who afterward selected team-s of ten or more 
men each, in order to conduct the campaign in a system- 
atic way. Saturday evening, September 29, $8,000 re- 
mained to be made up of the amount required. The As- 
sociation workers redoubled their efforts, and just as the 
midnight hour arrived the ringing of church bells an- 
nounced to the community that the whole amount had been 
raised. A jubilee meeting was held Sabbath afternoon in 
the hall. A large and animated assembly sang songs of 
praise, and listened with pleasure to the many brief ad- 
dresses that were made. The success of this work was 
due chiefly to L. W. Mumma, the special Financial Secre- 
tary, who rendered most admirable service. Rev. John Al- 
bert Eby accepted a call from the directors to become Gen- 
eral Secretary, and took charge the first of November. 
Tuesday evening, November 6, a supper was given in one 
of the Association rooms by the trustees and directors as 
a reception to Mr. Eby and a farewell to Mr. Reed, for 
six years the highly esteemed and faithful General Secre- 
tary. A well-filled purse was presented to Mr. Reed in 
token of the high regard in which he has been held by the 
officers and members of the Association. 

For seven years the work has been greatly aided by 
the Ladies' Auxiliary, which at the present time has a mem- 
bership of 135, and of which Mrs. Lloyd Johnston is the 
present President. 

It is worthy of mention that for several years a Balti- 
more and Ohio railroad branch of the Y. M. C. A. carried 
on an excellent work, though with very inadequate facili- 
ties. George E. Enterline was in charge of this work dur- 



RELIGIOUS FORCES 391 



ing the greater part of its continuance. Soon after his 
departure to enter the ministry of the Baptist church the 
old railroad building in which the work had been carried 
on was demolished (1903), and the work has not been re- 
sumed. 

THE woman's christian TEMPERANCE UNION. 

This worthy institution was organized May 1, 1881. 
At a meeting, held in the afternoon and evening of that day, 
in the Presbyterian church, Connellsville, Mrs. Annie Wit- 
tenmyer, of Philadelphia, who was president of the first W. 
C. T. U. national convention in 1874, and State President in 
1881, delivered two addresses on temperance work. At the 
close of the evening address a local union was formed, with 
the following officers : Mrs. Lutellus Lindley president, 
Mrs. N. B. Long corresponding secretary, Mrs. W. L. Neff 
recording secretary, Mrs. R. C. Morgan treasurer, Mrs. J. 
M. Barnett, Mrs. A. D. Brown, Mrs. L. B. Hyatt, Mrs. Wm. 
B. Minor and Mrs. A. Hutton, vice presidents. 

Notwithstanding many discouragements, the meetings 
have been regularly held from that time to the present, and 
the work has been carried on without interruption. Ser- 
vices of praise and prayer and conferences on plans and 
methods are of frequent occurrence. The Union has 
brought lecturers on temperance and kindred topics, dis- 
tributed much literature, aided in bringing about various 
reforms, held mothers' meetings, parlor and cottage meet- 
ings and meetings for young, established Loyal Legions, 
visited the schools in the interest of scientific temperance 
instruction, sustained temperance work among the miners, 
conducted flower mjissions and for 16 years has maintained 
a department for the relief of the poor. During the indus- 
trial depression of 1892-3 the Union raised funds, collected 
clothing and provisions, opened headquarters in a vacant 
store room in the Morton building, Pittsburgh street, and 
rendered valuable and timely aid to many families that were 
in need. 



393 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

The following persons have served as Presidents : 
Mrs. Lutellus Lindley, Mrs. N. B. Long, Mrs. Thomas M. 
Fee, Mrs. W. L. Neff, Mrs. James L. Paull, Mrs. WiUiam 
A. Edie, Mrs. A. R. Seaman and Mrs. Geo. B. Brown. 
Some of these Presidents served several years and at va- 
rious times. The longest term was that of Mrs. Edie, who 
served twelve consecutive years, from April 27, 1887. 

The present officers are : Mrs. Geo. B. Brown, presi- 
dent; Mrs. Elizabeth Lucas, vice president; Mrs. W. R. 
Clasper, secretary, and Miss Mary Kane, treasurer. 



CHAPTER XL 



PUBLIC UTILITIES 



The founder of Connellsville, in his wisdom and fore- 
sight, provided the first pubHc utiHties of the town when 
he gave it its charter. 

Of these, the franchise for the first one mentioned was 
reserved to himself, and consisted of the right to operate 
a ferry between Connehsville and New Haven, or Stewart's 
Crossing. This right was exercised by Zachariah Connell 
and his associates from 1793 to 1800 for the convenience 
of travelers of the "Great Road" or others who might wish 
to transport themselves or property from one side of the 
river to the other. 

The second, third and fourth were dedicated to the 
use of any of the inhabitants of the community without let 
or hindrance, and free of charge forever. These con- 
sisted of "an excellent stone coal bank on the edge of the 
river," and a stone quarry, "where stone may be got for 
building;" but of more immediate good and convenience 
was the setting aside of certain springs or fountains for 
the benefit of all. 

The terms under which these utilities are placed at 
the disposal of the people of the town will be found in an- 
other part of this history, where the charter is given in full. 

THE YOUGHIOGHENY BRIDGE COMPANY. 

On March 15, 1800, authority was conferred by act of 
the Legislature under which Isaac Meason and Zachariah 
Connell built the first bridge across the Youghiogheny river 
from Connellsville to what is now New Haven. 

Said act provides in part as follows : 

"An act to authorize Isaac Meason and Zachariah 

393 



394 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Connell, their heirs and assigns, to erect, build and main- 
tain a toll bridge across the Youghiogheny River at Con- 
nellsville in Fayette county. 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House 
of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 
in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the 
authority of the same, 

That it shall and may be lawful for Isaac Meason and 
Zachariah Connell, their heirs and assigns, to erect, build, 
support and maintain a good and substantial bridge over 
and across the Youghiogheny river at Connellsville, near 
the great road leading from Philadelphia to Uniontown 
across said river ; and that the property of the said bridge, 
when built, shall be, and the same is hereby vested in the 
aforesaid Isaac Meason and Zachariah Connell, their heirs 
and assigns forever ; and that the said Isaac Meason and 
Zachariah Connell their heirs or assigns, may demand and 
receive toll from travelers and others, not exceeding the 
following rates, viz : For every coach, landau, chariot,, 
phaeton, chair, or other pleasure carriage, for each horse 
drawing the same fifteen cents ; for every loaded wagort 
or cart, for each horse drawing the same, twelve and one- 
half cents ; for the same carriage when empty, for each 
horse drawing the same nine cents ; for every sleigh or sled 
when loaded, ten cents for each horse drawing the same ;. 
for the same empty seven cents for each horse drawing the 
same ; for every single horse and rider, six cents ; for every 
horse or mule with their burden or load, four cents ; for 
every horse or mule without burden or load, three cents ;. 
for every foot passenger one cent; for each head of horned 
cattle, two cents ; for each sheep or swine, one cent ; and 
for all carriages which shall be drawn by oxen or partly 
drawn by oxen and partly by horses, two oxen shall be 
estimated as equal to one horse in charging all the afore- 
said respective tolls, and each mule as equal to one horse : 
Provided always nevertheless, that nothing in this act con- 
tained shall extend to authorize the said 



PUBLIC UTILITIES 395 



MEMORANDUM OF AN AGREEMENT 

made the 4th day of September, eighteen hunured and thirteen,, 
between Hiram Connell, WilHam Page and Greenberry Jones,, 
executors of Zachariah Connell, deceased, of tlie one part and 
Isaac Meason, Jr., of the other part. 

Witnesseth, That the said executors for and in considera- 
tion of the yearly rent of four hundred dollars to be paid as is- 
hereinafter mentioned, have leased by these presents do lease 
unto Isaac Mason, Jr., and his assigns, all their mterest in the 
bridge at Connellsville with the house occupied by Mrs. Wal- 
lace, for the term of one year, to commence as soon as Firman 
& Trump complete the repairs they have contracted to make 
and fully to be completed and ended: 

And the said Meason on his part covenants and agrees tO' 
pay to the executors aforesaid four hundred dollars, in four 
equal quarter yearly payments, to commence and be counted 
from the commencement of this lease. 

And it is further agreed on the part of the executors that 
any repairs that the said Meason may be under the necessity of 
making on the half of the bridge next Connellsville shall be re- 
tained out of the rent aforesaid, and that if it should so happen 
that the bridge, by floods in the river, or otherwise should be 
injured and rendered impassable, then and thenceforth the rent 
to cease and determine until the damage be repaired. 

In testirnony whereof the parties have hereunto set their 
hands and seals. 

Test. HIRAM CONNELL (Seal) 

WILLIAM PAGE (Seal) 

G. R. JONES (Seal) 

ISAAC MEASON, Jr., (Seal) 

It is agreed that this lease commence the twentieth of Octo- 
ber, 1813, and it is agreed on the part of Isaac Meason, Jr., that 
the families of the executors, foot and horse, pass free and that 
Messrs. Page and Jones have the privilege of passing the bridge 
free with their teams to supply the said Meason and the Messrs. 
Taylor with the coal now contracted for. 

ISAAC MEASON, Jr. 

April 9th, 1814, received of Meason, Jr., two hundred dol- 
lars for rent reserved in the within article. 

G. R. JONES. 



396 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

October 17, 1814, received of I. Meason, Jr., two hundred 
dollars for rent as above. 

G. R. JONES. 

October 13, 1814. It is truly agreed by the parties to the 
within lease, that Isaac Meason, Jr., is to have the bridge from 
the 20th inst. until 20th October, 1815, for four hundred and 
fifty dollars, to be paid in quarter annual pay't. 

Witness their hands and seals. 

Test. G. R. JONES (Seal) 

Jos. Rogers of Jones. ISAAC MEASON, Jr., (Seal) 

It is hereby agreed by the parties to the above lease, that 
Isaac Meason, Jr., is to have the bridge for one year, commenc- 
ing the 20th October last part, and ending the 20th October, 
1816, for four hundred and twenty-five dollars, payable quarterly. 

Witness their hands and seals the 20tli October, 1815. 

Test. WILLIAM PAGE (Seal) 

Daniel Rogers. G. R. JONES (Seal) 

ISAAC MEASON, Jr., (Seal) 

Isaac Meason and Zachariah Connell, their heirs and 
assigns, to erect or build a bridge in the manner in this 
act before mentioned, on any private property — without the 
consent of the owner or owners thereof, or to erect the 
same in such manner as in any way to injure the navigation 
of said river, or the passage over the ford across the river, 
near where the bridge may be erected." 

It was further provided by the act "That all poor per- 
sons, or those who may be exempted from payment of 
county rates and levies, shall have liberty to pass and repass 
over and across said bridge toll free." 

The time was limited to one year for beginning the 
erection of the bridge and to three years for its comple- 
tion. 

The work was completed within the limit of time fixed 
by the statute although it is not known exactly when it 
was thrown open to the public. Its location was nearly 
one hundred feet up stream from the present bridge and 




'^i.j-.^^^^ /^(:U^^ ^^^-,^*:.^ Xf^ 





AN OLD YOUGHIOGHENY BRIDGE AGREEMENT 



398 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

was a wooden-bent structure, resting at the two ends on 
abutments, which were rude affairs, each formed of a strong 
crib-work of logs filled in with stones. The bridge re- 
mained for perhaps, fifteen years, and was carried away 
by floods sometime in the year 1816, or early in 1817, as 
evidenced by a niemorandum found, showing that a ferry 
was in operation by Joseph Keepers and George Sloan in 
the spring of 1817. The abutment and old toll house re- 
mained standing for a number of years at the Connells- 
ville end — about opposite the present Hotel Haas, on Water 
street — in fact, the toll house was not demolished until 
the building of the railroad made it necessary, which is 
within the memory of many now living. 

In the year 1818 the second bridge was built. This 
was also a wooden-bent structure, built after a model fur- 
nished by Adam Wilson, a Scotchman, known throughout 
the country for his ingenuity. This bridge was supported 
above by four heavy arches, formed of two-inch oak planks 
l)olted together, and it rested between the abutments on 
three strong bents of heavy timber, having breakers ex- 
tending from their bases up stream between thirty and forty 
feet and sloping at an angle of forty-five degrees from the 
bed of the river to the chords of the bridge. For nine years 
this bridge stood intact, but in 1827 the span next to the 
New Haven shore fell, while a wagon heavily laden and 
•drawn by six horses was upon it. It went down with a 
crash, yet it fell so squarely that neither horses, driver, 
wagon or load sustained any serious damage. The work of 
rebuilding the fallen span was at once undertaken, and 
the wooden arches replaced by a kind of truss work. While 
the repairs were being made, Samuel Downey ran a ferry 
to take care of the traveling public. In February, 1831, a 
heavy ice gorge in the river broke up and carried away all 
of the bridge except the new span on the New Haven side. 

A great improvement on the first two bridges was 
made in on 3 built in 1832 by the Meason and Connell heirs. 
The bridge was built with two spans, resting on stone abut- 



PUBLIC UTILITIES 399 



ments and a stone pier in the river. The spans were sup- 
ported by soHd wooden arches and the superstructure was 
covered to protect it from the weather. For about twenty- 
•eight years this bridge did duty, until April, 1860, when a 
great and sudden rise in the river undermined the pier and 
■carried the whole structure away. The water rose at that 
time to within about two feet of the bridge floor and within 
a foot of the roadway on Front street, New Haven. 

James H. White made two or three unsuccessful at- 
tempts to build a bent bridge of short spans during the 
summer and fall succeeding the flood which destroyed this 
bridge, but his eft'orts were frustrated each time by a rise in 
the river which carried away his bents, and finally the plan 
was abandoned. This work was attempted some forty or 
fifty feet further up the stream than the location of the last 
•one. 

The history of the old bridges is hardly complete with- 
out some mention of "Aunt Jenny" Wallace (sister of 
Zachariah Connell's second wife) who held the position of 
toll-taker for many years. She must have been a quaint 
character, indeed, if all the stories told about her are true. 
.Some of these anecdotes savor much of the Stone Age, and 
will hardly justify repetition here. Suffice it that there 
were a great many jokes played upon her and she was much 
teased by the boys and practical jokers of that time. The 
bridge was hers in so far as her relations to the patrons of 
the bridge were concerned. She haggled for the last cop- 
per and was, from all reports an efficient and faithful guard- 
ian of her trust. One who was a boy in her time describes 
her as of sour visage and generally uninviting aspect, 
■clothed in an old black dress the right side of which she 
would grab with her left hand and with her right plunge 
inlio the depths of her pocket to make change for a "fip." 
-Let us hope that her sourness of countenance was only 
the mask assumed to impress the flippant passengers with 
the importance of her trust. 

After the destruction of the third bridge, other parties 



400 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

made arrangements with the owners of the Meason-Con- 
nell franchise, under which a new bridge company was 
formed, and by act of the Legislature, passed April 17, 
1861, supplementing the act of March 15, 1800, was created 
a body corporate under the name of the "Youghiogheny 
Bridge Company" with an authorized capital stock of $20,- 
000.00, divided into eight hundred shares of the par value 
of $25.00 each. Stock in the new company was issued to 
Mrs. Mary Meason, George E. Hogg and James H. White 
for their property and interest in the old charter and these 
three were the incorporators named in the application for 
the new charter. 

A meeting of the stockholders was held at the office 
of George J. Ashman, July 20, 1861, when George Nickel 
was elected president; George J. Ashman, secretary and 
treasurer, and James Wilkey, Samuel Russell, Provance 
McCormick, James H. White and John K. Brown, mana- 
gers. A building committee composed of James H. White, 
George Nickel and Jonathan Hewitt was appointed by the 
managers, and a contract with Christian Snyder was en- 
tered into, for the erection of the stone work, on August 
24, 1861. Plans were submitted by a Mr. Smith, an 
engineer from "down the river," for a suspension bridge. 
They were adopted, and work was commenced the same 
year and finished in the summer of 1862, at a cost of $19,- 
600.00. The suspension cables were anchored in masonry 
covered with iron — two on each side of river — and passed 
over saddles in stone towers, perhaps twenty-five feet high. 
From these cables, the wooden bridge was suspended. 

Jonathan Hewitt resigned from the building committee 
at the time of letting the contract, and the work seems to 
have been carried on under the supervision of Nickel and 
White until March 11, 1862, when White resigned from 
the board of managers. George A. Torrence was chosen 
to succeed him as one of the board, and L. A. Wetherell 
was appointed to his place on the building committee. 

At a special meeting of the board of managers, held 




THE Or.D SUSPENSION BRIDGE 



402 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

July 30, 1862, a number of resolutions were passed, begin- 
ning with the following preamble : "Whereas, the Presi- 
dent and managers of the Youghiogheny Bridge Company 
congratulate themselves and the stockholders upon the com- 
pletion of their bridge, which for some time past has been 
open for public use." Following this is a series of resolu- 
tions authorizing the delivery of the shares of stock agreed 
upon to Mrs. Mary Meason, George E. Hogg and James 
H. White in exchange for their property and franchises ; 
authorizing the payment of bills by the treasurer, and in- 
structing him as to the manner in which the accounts 
should be kept ; requesting an accounting from James H. 
White "for the proceeds of the ferry for the time which 
he had the same after it belonged to the company." 

A dividend of four per cent was declared January 31, 
1863. Josiah Kurtz and J. M. Lytle were appointed to 
conduct the annual election for officers and managers, held 
May 4, 1863. 

George A. Torrence moved away and Thomas R. 
Davidson was chosen in his place, January 30th, 1864, and 
on May second following he was elected president. James 
McKearns had been chosen a manager, vice L. A. Wetherell 
retired. 

Adam Byerly was the first toll-taker, but he is not 
mentioned in the minutes until February 1st, 1865, when 
it was resolved "that the salary of Adam Byerly, the gate- 
keeper be advanced to twenty dollars per month from this 
date." 

Like "Aunt Jenny" Wallace, Adam Byerly was made 
the subject of many practical jokes and especially so as he 
was very zealous in attending to his duties as toll-taker — 
he could not see a cent escape him (officially,) without tak- 
ing it as a personal afifront, so deeply in his heart were the 
interests of his company. Some of the young folks of Con- 
nellsville attended a select school kept in New Haven by 
Miss Bell. On their way to and from school, in winter, 
they would cross on the ice when it was sufficiently strong 



PUBLIC UTILITIES 403 



or in summer when the river was quite low there were days 
when the bolder ones would wade over, but never without 
a protest from Adam, who would plead with them on ac- 
count of the danger of their being drowned and end up by 
a tirade against them for defrauding the bridge company. 
He likewise took exception to teamsters allowing anyone 
to ride over with them when fording the river, which was 
often done in those days. 

June 19, 1871, Adam Byerly resigned. The resigna- 
tion was accepted with a resolution of appreciation for the 
faithful manner in which he had discharged his duties as 
a toll receiver, and as a token of the esteem in which he 
was held by the managers he was voted a substantial sum 
''as additional compensation." Adam Eccles was employed 
to take his place. 

Daniel Kaine had been elected president succeeding 
Thomas R. Davidson, at the annual meeting held May 1, 
1871. 

Fifty dollars was voted to Connellsville Borough at a 
meeting held October 31, 1871, to be used "towards fixing 
and beautifying the public grounds below the end of the 
bridge." 

George J. Ashman had been in ill health for some 
time, and on January 25, 1872, Josiah Kurtz was appointed 
treasurer to relieve him. Mr. Ashman died March 18, 1872, 
and A. C. Knox, on May 6, 1872, was elected to succeed 
him. S. P. Knox was elected treasurer May 5, 1879, and 
held that office until May 1, 1880, when he removed from 
Connellsville "much to the regret of the board." A. C. 
Knox was re-elected in his place. 

May 7, 1883, one hundred dollars was appropriated to- 
wards repairing the state road westward from New Haven, 
"said amount to be paid to H. Wickham and expended under 
his direction." 

George B. Kaine was elected president to succeed his 
father on May 4, 1885. On May 3, 1886, J. C. Kurtz suc- 
ceeded A. C. Knox as treasurer, and held that office until 



404 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

May 2, 1898, when he resigned and Kell Long was elected. 

Upon the death of Adam Eccles, Henry Shaw was 
made toll-taker, this was on July 18, 1887. Leroy White 
succeeded Henry Shaw on December 5, 1889, and was al- 
lowed one assistant. Upon his death, Theodore F. White 
was elected to his place, November 4, 1892, and has been 
head toll-taker since, although he now has two assistants. 

P. S. Newmyer was chosen a manager October 30, 
1886, to succeed James McKearns (who had died). Mr. 
Newmyer was elected president at the meeting held May 
7th, 1888, and has been continuously re-elected since. 

A great many of Connellsville's best men have served 
upon the board of managers of the bridge company. Among 
them, besides those already mentioned, might be named 
the following: Aaron Bishop, M. O. Tinstman, J. T. Mc- 
Cormick, Samuel Freeman, Joseph Paull, Josiah Kurtz 
and James Allen. 

In the spring of 1890 a report became current that 
the bridge was unsafe — a committee was appointed to have 
an expert examination made of the property — an expe- 
rienced engineer was procured who submitted an exhaus- 
tive report in August of that year pronouncing the cables 
and fastenings, superstructure and all to be in excellent 
condition. He further suggested a plan whereby the ca- 
pacity of the bridge could be increased by adding a foot- 
walk at the lower side — this plan was adopted and the im- 
provements made in the winter of 1890-91, at a cost of 
about $7,500.00. 

A petition was presented to the court of quarter ses- 
sions of Fayette county in November, 1890, for the appoint- 
ment of appraisers to assess damages if any to the Yough- 
iogheny Bridge Company, by virtue of their making it a 
free bridge. The viewers met and assessed damages, but 
the county authorities never acted on the matter. 

In the fall of 1892, a movement was started to build 
a free bridge from Apple street, Connellsville, to Traders 
alley, New Haven. This was opposed by the Bridge Com- 



PUBLIC UTILITIES 405 



pany as being equivalent to confiscation of their property 
and was so determined finally by the Supreme Court of the 
State, whose verdict stopped the project. 

November 1, 1897, a committee of the board was ap- 
pointed to confer with the stockholders and consider the 
advisability of building a new bridge. This was finally de- 
cided upon and a contract let to the Pittsburgh Bridge 
Company, on July 11, 1898, for the erection of an "over- 
head" bridge (with reference to the B. & O. R. R. Com- 
pany's Tracks and Water street). This contract was after- 
ward amended, and new specifications submitted which 
were adopted October o, 1898. The starting of the work 
was delayed, pending an agreement with the town council 
of Connellsville as to the place of landing. This was finally 
adjusted and an agreement entered into between the bridge 
company and the borough authorities on October 17, 1898. 
This is a lengthy document and covered all the points at 
difiference. The Bridge Company giving a bond in the sum 
of $50,000.00 for faithful performance. 

Within a few days from the signing of this agree- 
ment the work was started. This is a steel truss bridge of 
five spans with steel girders and beams upon which rests 
a floor of wood, treated with creosote and overlaid with 
paving brick. The structure was completed and accepted 
from the contractors at a meeting on November 29, 1899. 

The street railway entered into a contract with the 
bridge company for the privilege of crossing the bridge on 
October 18, 1900. 

The officers and managers of the company, since May, 
1904. are as follows : President, P. S. Newmyer ; Treas- 
urer, E. T. Norton ; Managers, John D. Frisbee, Kell Long, 
Isaac F. Wilkey, Philip Wilkey and E. T. Norton. 

WATER. 

Out of the hills of West Virginia, crossing Maryland 
in a generally northern course, flows the Youghiogheny, a 
beautiful mountain stream of water, as pure and clear as 



PUBLIC UTILITIES 407 



any in the world. Its whole life has been a struggle, for it 
has fought through mountain after mountain, bursting 
through the Laurel Ridge of the Alleghanies, crossing the 
Ligonier Valley and finally cutting Chestnut Ridge in twain, 
gives Connellsville what all towns and cities most need and 
few have, an abundant supply of good water — essential to 
the health of her people, to the success of her manufactories, 
to her future prosperity. 

Few people appreciate the temperamental and moral 
effect of a living stream on a communit}' — that it does have 
a beneficent and appreciably wholesome influence on human 
character can be proven in more ways than one. There 
are larger rivers than the Youghiogheny, but none more 
beautiful, none more incipientlv pure. 

The success of Connellsville's first enterprises were de- 
pendent upon this river, as the reputation of her world- 
famed coke (to a degree not generally accredited) is de- 
pendent upon it today. The very birth of the town grew 
out of the fact that the river was navigable from that point 
for the boats of the period, and formed an important link 
in shortening the way to the west. Alud Island would 
never have been conceived as a place for human habitation 
but for that fact, and Connellsville would not have been 
called into existence. 

May the wisdom of her people and of the state author- 
ities keep the Youghiogheny ever undefiled. 

The source of the domestic water supply of Connells- 
ville in its earlier historv was from a number of large 
springs or "fountains," as Zachariah Connell termed them 
in his charter, which gushed from the hills surrounding the 
town, and were so situated as to be convenient to most of 
its homes. The spring most drawn upon was located on 
the south side of East Main street, near Pittsburgh street 
on the Barnes property. It was one time called McClane's 
spring from the fact that Dr. Charles McClane (inventor 
of the celebrated "Liver Pills" and "Worm Specific") at 
one time lived nearby. The supply from this fountain was 



408 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

pure, copious and unfailing. Water was piped to several 
parts of town from it, one large user being a brewery located 
in the rear of the present Frisbee property on Main street. 

Wooden pipes — hollowed out of logs — were used as 
conduits. Not many years ago some of them were dug up 
and found to be wonderfully well preserved. 

Until comparatively recent years a watering trough 
was maintained near the spring on Main street and it was 
a popular place for "watering horses and cattle." 

Another good spring was located at or near the corner 
of Pittsburgh street and Church Place, where Dr. New- 
comer's building now is — this spring was walled up and 
protected for many years. 

Still another bountiful supply of most excellent water 
welled up "right out of the solid rock" near the old stone 
quarry to the east of the Connellsville Distilling Company's 
plant. This was by some called Francis' spring and by 
others Lewis' spring. This water was also "piped" to a 
number of houses in the vicinity, and is still used by resi- 
dents in that neighborhood. The -proximity of this water 
supply accounted for the location close by of the old Snyder 
Brewery, which at one time flourished there. 

Before we leave this subject we wish to mention two 
wells that flourished with the springs and to a much more 
recent period. The Robbins well on South Prospect street 
was considered especially pure, and was used by druggists 
in their compounding. A well on Meadow lane, equipped 
with an enormous log pump built by Michael Trump, was 
open to the public and used for sometime after the coming 
of the Connellsville Water Company. 

The Connellsville Water Company was incorporated 
under the laws of Pennsylvania in 1883. The charter was 
secured and works were erected by W. S. Kuhn and asso- 
ciates of Pittsburgh. Later the charter and franchises were 
turned over to the American Water Works and Guarantee 
Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., of which Mr. Kuhn is vice 
president and treasurer. 



410 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

The first reservoir was built about two miles east of 
town, at the foot of the mountains on McCoy Run, and 
utilizes the water from McCoy's spring and a number of 
smaller mountain streams. McCoy's spring has been fa- 
mous for years for its pure, cold water and never varying 
supply. The capacity of this reservoir is 5,000,000 gallons. 

The rapid growth of Connellsville during 1884 made 
it necessary to provide a still larger storage basin. Con- 
sequently, about 1885, the Breakneck Reservoir was built, 
about four miles northeast of town, on the site of the old 
Breakneck furnace. This basin has a capacity of 20,000,000 
gallons, and is supplied by several mountain streams. 

At each of these reservoirs a watchman is kept all 
the time, whose duty it is to patrol the streams to head- 
waters weekly — summer and winter, to prevent their pollu- 
tion. The company keep the grounds about both basins in 
a good condition all the time, and, as they are well laid out, 
present a beautiful appearance, set-off as they are by the 
surrounding mountains. 

On the Youghiogheny river near Blue Stone quarry, 
about two miles southeast of town and above all contam- 
ination, the company maintain a pump house and filtering 
plant with a capacity of 2,500,000 gallons of water every 
twenty-four hours. The equipment consists of three pumps 
of 2,500,000 gallon capacity each for the twenty-four hours, 
one of which pumps the water from the river to the filter, 
another forces the filtered water into the mains, while the 
third is held in reserve to provide for accident or other 
contingencies. All of the water taken from the river is 
carefully filtered, and once a month samples of water are 
sent to the company's chemist for analysis as a further 
precaution against contamination. The pumphouse and 
other buildings are surrounded by lawns and driveways, 
and the company invite inspection by the public. 

There are about forty miles of pipe and eighty-six fire 
hydrants in the town. 

The :i ^nation of the storage reservoirs in the moun- 



412 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

tains high above town enables the company to maintain a 
high fire pressure all the time — no engines being required 
to throw the water over the highest buildings. The rates 
to manufacturing concerns as well as to private consumers 
are reasonable, and a never failing and abundant supply 
of clear, pure, wholesome water is always at hand for all 
purposes. 

The present officers of the company are J. H. Purdy, 
general manager, Pittsburgh, Pa. ; J. David Stillwagon, su- 
perintendent, local office, 118 North Pittsburgh street, Con- 
nellsville, Pa. 

The water company had one serious break a few years 
ago, when the excessive rains augmented by a cloud-burst 
carried away a part of the Breakneck Reservoir and flooded 
the valley to Mounts Creek. The damage was soon repaired 
and the dam re-inforced against like occurrences in the 
future. 

THE CONNELLSVILLE AND NEW KAVEN GAS 

AND WATER COMPANY 

was incorporated March 7, 1871. The incorporat- 
ators were Joseph Johnston, Christopher S. Sherrick, Ed- 
ward Dean, David Welsh, and Dr. Ellis Phillips. On the 
23rd day of September, 1871, the stockholders met and 
elected from their number the following named board of 
managers : Joseph Johnston, Edward Dean, Ellis Phillips, 
David Welsh, John D. Frisbee and J. T. McCormick. Of 
these, Joseph Johnston was chosen president, John D. Fris- 
bee, treasurer ; J. T. McCormick, secretary. 

A committee was appointed in July, 1872, to secure a 
site for the erection of a gas works, and, on the 31st day 
of that month, reported the purchase of a lot from the 
Connellsville Mutual Building and Loan Association for 
the purpose. 

The location is on Mounts Creek, near its confluence 
with the Youghiogheny river. A contract was made with 
Connolly and Taylor of Pittsburgh to build the works com- 



PUBLIC UTILITIES 41J 



plete and lay all gas mains ready for use on or before No- 
vember 1st, 1871, for the sum of $22,000.00, which was 
done, and J. T. McCormick was appointed superintendent 
of the works. 

The company was prosperous for a time, but seems 
ever to have suffered from a lack of broad, liberal man- 
agement. Its managers, of whom there were many, never 
appear to have grasped the opportunities offered under its 
broad charter and liberal franchises — not only to further 
the interests of the company, but of the community as well 
— they seem on the contrary, to have been peculiarly short- 
sighted in their administration of its affairs. 

One of the objects in view in the formation of the 
company was to supply the borough with water, which is 
authorized in the charter; this privilege was bartered to 
the promoters of the Connellsville Water Company for a 
few thousand feet of new gas mains and a cash considera- 
tion entirely inadequate to the benefits conferred. 

Natural gas was brought into town ; then, electric 
light. The competition thus engendered and the improve- 
ments in the distribution of electric light finally brought 
matters to a point where the control of the company passed 
to the electric company and thence through it to the light- 
ing branch of the West Penn Railways and its allied com- 
panies. 

The company is* still in existence and is ofiicered by 
the West Penn Company. Hiram Austen has for twenty- 
three years been in charge of the works. 

The authorized capital was $35,000.00 consisting of 
1,400 shares of $25.00 each. Of this amount 1,019 shares 
or only $25,475.00 was ever paid in. 

A copy of an agreement between the company and 
Connellsville Borough follows, — this contract was made in 
1880 — an earlier one could not be found, although the 
streets were lighted by the gas company prior to the date 
of this asfreement : ■ 



CC't^^/i, ^S^*«r /X«L^^^ /^Si ^i; £in^iaCt!^t. a^ 7^ ^^^^^^ ^' </^!Z 

/Ze*? '^^i' ^^ /2e^^ 3<:!c^ J^i cxi^a^fo' j^,Ut^^ £^/i^ ;^/V.<«:g>»^p>/«^?*' ,»f 



i^^Z^ . ^^-^.^ <^t<ijC-y :^>^j;^~^ i5>^ ^/l*;— ^^.^Xngf CL/''^--- 




;% 



FACSIMII^E OK CONTRACT WITH THH CONNELLSVILLE, NEW HAVEN CAS & WATER COMPAQ 



PUBLIC UTILITIES 415 



TELEGRAPH COMPANIES. 

Telegraphic communication was first established with 
Connellsville in the latter part of 18G4, when an office was 
opened by the Western Union, although the Pittsburgh and 
Connellsville Railroad had a private service lor the opera- 
tion of their road at an earlier date. For a number of years 
the office was in the Smith House. Afterwards it occu- 
pied a room where the Yough National Bank now is, for 
quite a number of years^ — moving thence to the Borough 
building corner Main and Pittsburgh streets. It is now lo- 
cated opposite the Hotel Marietta in the old J. D. Still- 
wagon house (now the property of the Second National 
Bank). Miss Cora B. Anthony is in charge. 

An office was established by the Postal Telegraph 
Cable Company for the service of Connellsville in April, 
1899. It first occupied a room on West Main street — 
thence it was moved to Brimstone corner. It is now located 
in the Kail property on West Main street. The office is now 
in charge of Mrs. Cree Horner. 

THE ELECTRIC COMPANY. 

Connellsville had had a gas plant since 1871, but, as 
its lines were not sufficiently extended, the demand for a 
better and farther reaching lighting system became more 
and more urgent upon those citizens not within the circle 
of illumination. In the fall of 1889, John L. Gans and E. 
T. Norton started a subscription paper which culminated 
in the incorporation of a company under Pennsylvania laws 
with a capital stock of $30,000.00 (shares $100 each) 
under the name of "The Electric Company." 

A remarkable fact about this company (when con- 
sidered in the light of present-day methods) is. that the 
stock was fully paid in in cash before the work of con- 
struction was begun. 

The charter was dated November 13, 1889, and the 
first officers and directors were : John D. Frisbee, presi- 
dent; J. M. Reid, Charles Davidson, J. S. McCaleb, ElHs 



416 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Phillips, John L. Gans. secretary, and E. T. Norton, treas- 
rrer. 

A contract was entered into with the Keystone Con- 
struction Company of Pittsburgh for a full Westinghouse 
equipment, steam and electric. It consisted of an arc-light 
generator with a capacity of 50 lights, two alternating cur- 
rent incandescent generators with a capacity of 750 sixteen, 
candle power lamps each. One generator was held in re- 
serve as the company had consumers promised for only 
700 sixteen candle power lights. The steam plant con- 
sisted of one forty horse power Westinghouse simple 
engine and two compound engines (seventy-five horse 
power each) of the same make, with boiler capacitv sufifi- 
cient to take care of the maximum loads . All the necessary 
switchboards and apparatus appertaining thereto was in- 
cluded with sufficient converter capacity to provide for the 
initial installation. 

Connellsville borough contracted for twenty-eight arc 
lights and' sixteen incandescent series lamps — a contract was 
made with New Haven Borough for seven arc and two 
series lamps. 

The power house was situated at the corner of Grape 
and Mountain alleys, on land purchased from H. P. Sny- 
der and now occupied by the Connellsville Distilling Com- 
pany. The building was a substantial brick, and the foun- 
dations for the machinery were put in in the most approved 
manner. Cedar poles were used for transmission lines, 
which were exceptionally well installed. The plant was a 
good orie in every respect, as evidenced by the fact that for 
the thirteen years of its existence the incandescent system 
was out not more than ten minutes on three occasions, and 
the arc lights were out only three or four nights, for which 
heavy storms were responsible. Work was commenced on 
the plant about November 1st, 1889, and the lights turned 
on February 9th, 1890. 

W. A. Bishop was made superintendent in the fall of 
1891. The plant grew steadily till in 1904 it had a capa- 



PUBLIC UTILITIES 



417 



city of some 8,000 incandescent sixteen candle power lights 
and about 14,000 wired up. The meter system was in- 
stalled shortly after the plant began operation, which ac- 
counts for the large number of lights connected with its 
lines in excess of its capacity. The arc lighting had grown 
in the rneantime to a capacity of 150 lamps with about 100 
lamps in service. 

Parties interested in the Pittsburgh, McKeesport and 
Connellsville Railway Company bought out the local owners 
June 2, 1902, at which time the officers and directors were 
J. M. Reid, president; E. T. Norton, secretary and treas- 
urer; Charles Davidson, John D. Frisbee and Kell Long. 

A list of the original stockholders follows with the 
number of shares held by each : 

Name. Shares. 

Charles Davidson Twenty 

J. S. McCaleb Fifty 

Kell Long Ten 

R. S. Paine Ten 

Eugene T. Norton Ten 

John D. Frisbee Twenty-five 

H. C. Huston Five 

H. P. Snyder Five 

H. S. Spear One 

T. H. White Fifteen 

Chas. H. Ways Two 

J. M. Reid Twenty 

H. C. McCormick One 

Ellis Phillips Ten 

James Allen Ten 

George A. Torrence Ten 

W. A. McHugh Five 

W. S. Hood Two 

A. W. Hood Two 

B. F. Boyts Five 

J. A. Zimmerman P"'ive 

A. W. Bishop Two 



20) 
50) 
10) 
10) 

10) 
25) 

■5) 
5) 

1) 
15) 

2) 
20) 

1) 
10) 
10) 
10) 

^) 
2) 
3) 
5) 
5) 
2) 



418 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



Name. 

P. Berryhill One 

F. Norcross One 

F. Everett Two 

Buttermore One 



Shares. 

1) 
1) 

3) 
1) 



H. 

J- 
D. 

S. 

G. R. Long Ten 

G. F. Pritchard One ( 1) 

John Davidson Three (3) 

J. R. Davidson Three (3) 

J. C. Sloan Three (3) 

C. M. Miller Three ( 3) 

I. C. Smutz One (1) 

T. F. Mahon Two ( 2) 

John Jay Gregg One (1) 

Thomas Adams Five ( 5 ) 

W. H. Thomas Two (3) 

W. H. Soisson Two ( 2) 

John F. McClelland Two ( 2) 

John Henry Two ( 2) 

J. M. Kurtz Two ( 3) 

S. E. Shepp Two (3) 

John Dean Three ( 3) 

A. W. Bauman Two (3) 

John A. Guiler One ( 1) 

J. C. Munson Ten . (10) 

John B. Marietta One ( 1) 

Samuel Heffly Two (3) 

George W. Stauffer Two (3) 

John L. Gans Five ( 5 ) 

On December 5, 1904, the company was merged into 
the West Penn Electric Company, an auxiliary of the West 
Penn Railways Company. The old power house was 
abandoned — current being taken from the large station of 
the Railways Company described elsewhere in this history. 

WEST PENN ELECTRIC COMPANY. 
The acts of the Legislature of Pennsylvania providing 



PUBLIC UTILITIES 419 



for the incorporation of certain companies do not make it 
legally possible to conduct the electric lighting business 
under a street railway charter. That income and profit 
from its surplus power might be properly realized the West 
Penn Railways Company organized December 5, 1904, the 
West Penn Electric Company with a capital stock of $500,- 
000.00 and the following officers and directors: W. S. 
Kuhn, president; J. B. Van Wagener, vice president; J. H. 
Purdy, secretary; J. F. Cockburn, treasurer and Jerome 
Hill, Jr. 

C. W. Scheck is now secretary and J. B. Van Wagener 
vice president and treasurer — no other changes are noted 
in the organization. 

This company now practically controls the electric 
lighting and power business of Fayette and Westmoreland 
counties. Among the more important plants operated by 
it are ones at Connellsville and New Haven, Uniontown, 
Scottdale, Greensburg, Mt. Pleasant, Dawson and a num- 
ber of smaller installations and much isolated business trib- 
utary to its lines. 

THE YOUGH LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER 
COMPANY. 

Organized primarily to furnish power to the Connells- 
ville Suburban Street Railway Company and light to South 
Connellsville, this company was incorporated April 26. 1899, 
with $15,000.00 capital (shares $30.00 each) and the fol- 
lowing directors and officers: Joseph Soisson, president; 
John D. Frisbee, Joseph D. Madigan, W. A. Davidson, John 
F. Soisson, George J. Humbert and S. R. Slaymaker. R. 
W. Soisson as secretary and treasurer. 

Shortly after the erection of the plant a franchise was 
secured from Connellsville Borough, and the lines extended 
over a part of the town for an incandescent lighting service, 
in competition with the Electric Company. Its power house 
was located at South Connellsville. This company is still 



420 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

in existence although it was sold early in 1903 to interests 
at present identified with the West Penn Electric Com- 
pany. 

CONNELLSVILLE. NEW HAVEN AND LEISEN- 
RLNG STREET RAILWAY COMPANY. 

In the summer and fall of 1890, John K. Ewing, Jr., 
secured the necessary rights of way for an electric street 
railway from Connellsville to Leisenring, Pa. On account 
of the inability of the company to secure the right to cross 
the suspension bridge (which was not considered strong 
enough to carry such heavy traffic) the line was built from 
New Haven to Leisenring under a charter from the state 
of Pennsylvania dated May 9, 1891. The authorized capi- 
tal was $100,000.00 divided into 2,000 shares of the par 
value of $50.00 each; $70,000.00 of which was paid in and 
bonds issued for $30,000.00. 

The officers and directors were John D. Frisbee, presi- 
dent ; Joseph Soisson, A. D. Boyd, John K. Ewing, Na- 
thaniel Ewing, John K. Ewing, Jr., (who was also secre- 
tary), and E. T. Norton, treasurer. John L. Gans was 
superintendent and looked after the construction of the 
road, which was completed October 31, 1891. The first 
car was run on the afternoon of that day. The car was 
crowded, for many were drawn out of curiosity to see the 
operation of the first "trolley" in Fayette county. It was 
in charge of a representative of the General Electric Com- 
pany, which had furnished and installed the electrical and 
power equipment of the road. 

The run out to Leisenring was very successful, on 
the return trip, however, while coming down the hill into 
New Haven the motorman lost control of the car. He put 
on the brakes, but the car slid and struck a passing freight 
train at the crossing of the South West Pennsylvania Rail- 
road's "Possum Run" branch. The car struck with such 
violence that it was thrown back and turned clear around ; 




A DECADE ON THE WEST PENN. SYSTEM 



422 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

the rear end of the car was demolished. The motorman 
and two or three others on the front platform jmnped — 
escaping unhurt, but a man and a boy on the rear plat- 
form were thrown under the wheels of the passing train — 
the man being killed and the boy losing a leg. The other 
occupants of the car came out unhurt excepting slight in- 
juries from broken glass, etc., sustained by three or four, 
and the general shaking up and fright given. 

This was a serious blow to the commercial and finan- 
cial success of the road, and plans were at once laid to 
avoid this dangerous grade, which was accomplished, about 
a year and a half later, by the purchase of a private right 
of way through the Hogg and Banning properties and 
building about one half mile of track. 

About the same time this change was being made an 
extension was built westward from Leisenring to Graham's 
Crossing, about a mile and a quarter nearer Leisenring No. 
3 or Monarch. 

The road was operated under practically the same man- 
agement for nine years until December 31, 1900, when it 
was merged into the Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Connells- 
ville Railway Company. 

Prior to this merger, however, the line had been oper- 
ated for a short time by the Mr. Pleasant, Scottdale and 
Connellsville Electric Street Railway Company, and later by 
the Connellsville and Uniontown Railway Company — both 
of these companies being afterwards absorbed by the Pitts- 
burgh, McKeesport and Connellsville Railway Company, 
which in turn was merged into the West Penn Interurban 
Railway Company. 

The Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Connellsville Railway 
Company was capitalized at $3,500,000.00 stock and $3,- 
500,000.00 in 5 per cent bonds — it was incorporated under 
Pennsylvania laws, December 31, 1900. The project was 
conceived by W. W. Staub, a telegraph operator of Pitts- 
burgh, who proposed to build a line covering the entire Con- 
nellsville Coke Region and connecting it with Pittsburg. 



424 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

The first step was the purchase of the Connehsville, New 
Haven and Leisenring Railway Company and was carried 
through successfuhy b}' enhsting W. H. Graham as presi- 
dent and M. K. Salsbury, secretary (both Pittsburgh men) 
who, by buying other small lines through the district to be 
covered, evolved what is now the 

WEST PENN RAILWAYS COMPANY. 

A Pennsylvania corporation with an authorized capital 
stock of $6,000,000.00 ($3,250,000.00, common stock and 
$2,750,000.00 of 5 per cent, non-cumulative preferred 
stock) and $6,000,000.00 in five per cent bonds of which 
$3,026,000.00 are outstanding. The officers of the com- 
pany are E. C. Converse, chairman of board; W. S. Kuhn, 
president ; J. S. Kuhn, vice president ; R. P. Watt, secre- 
tary; J. B. Van Wagener. treasurer. Directors: E. C. 
Converse, W. S. Kuhn, R. P. Watt, J. B. Van Wagener, 
John E. Borne, W. H. Graham, W. A. Shaw, C. A. Painter 
and A. J. Retzki. 

This company was incorporated February 19, 1904, and 
now traverses the most remote parts of the "Coke county." 
The manager is W. E. Moore, and the transportation de- 
partment is directly under the care of J. W. Brown. 

A power house costing over $1,000,000.00 is situated 
a little south of Connellsville on the Youghiogheny river. 
This plant is equipped in the most modern manner and 
capable of developing 10,000 horse power to be increased 
within a few months to 15,000 horse power, the work be- 
ing now under way. 

The plant has among other up-to-date machinery 
three steam turbines of 1,000 K. W. capacity each, and 
another is now being erected to have a capacity greater 
than the three combined or 3,250 K. W. This plant is 
furnishing light and power to a district with a radius of 
over fifty miles, throughout the counties of Fayette and 
Westmoreland and reaching into Allegheny and Washing- 
ton counties. The company is already doubling its capa- 



i26 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

city, and it will be only a short time until this must be 
vastly increased for the demand for electric power alone 
is making tremendous strides. A high potential current is 
delivered at convenient points along the line, and by the 
use of rotary or "step-down" transformers is converted to 
the proper voltage. 

Its car barns and repair shops are located near New 
Haven. Necessarily there are car barns at other points 
on the line, but the largest and most important are located 
here as well as the general offices of the company, which 
are in the Title & Trust Building, Connellsville. 

The road-bed and overhead work (trolley lines, feed 
lines, etc.,) are substantial and well built. Good big cars 
are used, and they are equipped with motors capable of 
making excellent time under all conditions. There are one 
hundred and twenty-five miles of track in the system, and 
this bids fair to be largely increased within a short time, 
as a number of extensions are under way and projected. 
The link connecting McKeesport and Greensburg will 
alone add quite a mileage, and upon its completion make 
a continuous line from Pittsburgh to the "Klondike" coal 
field of southern Fayette county. 

Main or Spring street of Zachariah Connell's time, 
and indeed for many years thereafter, would never have 
been conceived as the possible highway of such an immense 
traffic as is now half-hourly carried up and down the hill 
by the West Penn Railways Company, especially when it 
is remembered that a comparatively few years ago the 
grade was worse than that of Apple street today — the first 
"hump" taken off was as high as the second floor of the 
present Odd Fellows' Hall — a grade which would cer- 
tainly be discouraging to even the modern "trolley." 

CONNELLSVILLE SUBURBAN STREET RAILWAY 
COMPANY. 
A charter was granted by the state of Pennsylvania 



PUBLIC UTILITIES 437 



to this company on September 15, 1896. The capital stock 
was $25,000.00, shares $50.00 each. 

The officers and directors were : S. R. Slaymaker, 
president ; Joseph Soisson, John D. Frisbee, P. S. New- 
myer, John F. Soisson, John F. Barry, R. W. Soisson, sec- 
retary and treasurer. It was built to take care of the travel 
between Connellsville and South Connellsville and extended 
from Main street Connellsville via Arch, Green and Race 
streets to Soisson Park, South Connellsville. 

When it was first started the power was bought from 
the Connellsville, New Haven and Leisenring Street Rail- 
way Company. Later those interested started a light and 
power company as a separate proposition and the necess- 
ary current for the operation of the railway was purchased 
from it. 

This company was merged on April 14, 1905, with the 
West Penn Interurban Railway Company at the time the 
Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Connellsville Street Railway 
Company was merged into that corporation and is now 
operated, as is the Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Connells- 
ville Street Railway by the West Penn Railway Company. 

TELEPHONES. 

About four-score years after the incorporation of Con- 
nellsville Borough, the Connellsville Machine and Car 
Company, whose shops were at "Sodom" and office near 
the "B. & O. depot" installed for their convenience a tele- 
phone service under license of the "Bell Company." 

About the same time Kell Long, with a flouring mill 
on the New Haven side of the river and a warehouse and 
store room near the "South West" Station in Connellsville, 
put in a like service with a private pole line about three- 
quarters of a mile in length. 

A great deal of curiosity and interest was aroused 
amongst the younger generation of Connellsville through 
the establishment of these lines, and in fact the older folks 
were not averse to trying the telephone when opportunity 



4^8 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

offered to learn if you could hear "plainly and distinctly 
over it" and if you could tell who was speaking. 

Only a little more than twenty years have gone by, 
and the telephone is so much a thing of every day necess- 
ity that every little village and hamlet throughout the 
countr}', isolated farm houses and all sorts of out-of-the 
way places have a service capable of putting them in com- 
munication not only with the larger towns and places of 
their neighborhood but with the more remote cities and 
districts as well. It is another of the great aids to civiliza- 
tion, so new and yet so common, that we only wonder when 
we do not find a transmitter and receiver ready to our 
hand. 

THE CENTRAL DISTRICT AND PRINTING TELE- 
GRAPH COMPANY 

licensed, by the owners of the "Bell Telephone." 
established an exchange in Connellsville in 1888. The or- 
ganization of the head office was still in its infancy, and 
they had few exchanges outside of Pittsburgh and Allegheny 
county. It was through the efforts of A. C. Gray, chief 
operator of Pittsburgh and J. S. AlcCaleb, a banker and 
foreign exchange dealer of Connellsville, that the exchange 
at the latter place was established. Operations were begun 
with about ten subscribers, with Miss Laura Everett, now 
Mrs. Martin Meagher as local manager, operator, collector, 
and accountant. Mrs. Meagher had a great many inter- 
esting experiences growing out of the ignorance of the peo- 
ple as to the uses and possibilities of the telephone in every 
day life, and tells many amusing stories of some of the 
earlier and more unsophisticated patrons. 

The growth of the business from 1888 until 1895 was 
very slow on account of the rates then charged and also 
for the reasons that the convenience and economy of the 
telephone were not yet fully appreciated. In 1896 the very 
high royalties paid to the Bell Company were reduced, and 
in consequence the local charge for service was reduced 



PUBLIC UTILITIES 429 



almost 50 per cent and an active campaign started to in- 
crease the number of subscribers, which soon resulted in 
quadrupling the business of the exchange. 

The first competition was met with about 1896, but 
competition in the telephone business, as in many other 
lines of trade, proved a benefit to the company already es- 
tablished, by educating the public in the many uses of the 
telephone and increasing its need. Every new subscriber 
secured made the service more desirable and in many cases 
absolutely necessary to some one else, so that there are today 
more than 800 subscribers connected with the Connellsville 
exchange. 

The Connellsville branch is managed by Clarence Gib- 
son with headquarters at Uniontown, Pa., under him at 
Connellsville are fifteen operators, two clerks and collect- 
ors, two solicitors, a wire chief and three regular linemen. 

MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST VIR- 
GINIA TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH 
COMPANY, 

or as commonly called the Tri-State Telephone Com- 
pany. This company was incorporated November 12, 
1897, by Milton I. Baird, et al., of Pittsburgh, 
who thereupon constructed a small telephone system 
with Connellsville as the central point. They built 
a line to Uniontown and established an exchange there ; 
another to Normalville, where it branched, one part going 
to Indian Head, the other to Ohiopyle, at which latter 
place a small switchboard was installed. A line was con- 
structed to Scottdale, an exchange established there ; a line 
running thence to Alverton and Acme, near Mr. Pleasant. 
From Uniontown they secured the Fayette Gas Company 
line to Masontown, where a small exchange was estab- 
lished ; they also bought the Farmington Telephone Com- 
pany, which was operating a line from Uniontown to Farm- 
ington. An exchange was also established and maintained 
at Dunbar. 



430 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

At these various places the company at its most pros- 
perous period operated between 500 and 600 telephones, 
with results very beneficial to the patrons of the telephone 
service in general, for rates were very materially reduced 
and the service much improved all around. 

In the latter part of 1899, a deal was consummated 
whereby the ownership of a controlling interest in this 
company was transferred to New York people who then 
had in contemplation extensive plans as to the organization 
of a telephone system to operate between Chicago and 
Boston in general opposition to the "Bell Company." Some 
of their plans miscarried and they were obliged to abandon 
a part of their scheme and confine it to the development of 
their plants in New York and Boston and intermediate 
cities. As a consequence, instead of their being any exten- 
sive improvements in the service of this company, it was 
grossly neglected and the popular impression seemed to 
prevail that it had passed into hands friendly to the oppo- 
sition. This belief was strengthened early in 1903 by the 
Bell Company giving notice of some distasteful regulations 
they proposed enforcing such as reducing the free terri- 
tory of all subscribers to the immediate exchange and in- 
creasing the telephone rental. The citizens of the com- 
munities affected became considerably exercised over these 
conditions, and as a consequence determined to have relief. 

Ira E. Partridge of Uniontown learned that the New 
York people still owned a controlling interest in the stock 
of the Tri-State Company, and with the assistance of other 
Fayette county citizens purchased their holdings, and at 
once, upon reorganization of the company, started about 
rehabilitating it. At this time the company owned about 
three miles of cable, three hundred miles of wire, and had 
installed and in use between 300 and 400 telephones. 

A number of new exchanges have been established and 
lines extended until connections have been made through 
other systems with points all over Fayette, Green, West- 
moreland, Washington, Somerset and surrounding coun- 



PUBLIC UTILITIES 431 



ties ; also with Fairmont and many other towns of West 
Virginia ; Cumberland, Maryland ; Pittsburgh and a num- 
ber of places in eastern Ohio. It now has over twenty 
miles of cable, 1,800 miles of wire and 150 miles of pole 
line with about 3,500 telephones in service. Of these tele- 
phones 1,025 are installed in Connellsville and New Haven 
— a material increase as at the time the present manage- 
ment assumed charge of the company there were only 260 
subscribers in Connellsville. 

The service is being constantly improved and the most 
up-to-date equipment installed throughout. All of the new 
switchboards have a capacity largely in excess of present 
needs, so that future growth is provided for in advance. 
The aim of the present management is to make the Tri- 
State a first-class local service and to confine its operations 
to Fayette county. 

The present officers and directors are: R. E. Umbel, 
president; John M. Core, secretary; F. H. Rosboro, treas- 
urer, Samuel M. Graham, Frank M. Semans, James M. 
Reid, Nathaniel Ewing, Charles F. Kefover, Robert F. 
Hopwood, A. C. Sherrard, James C. Moore. 

THE SOUTH WEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY. 

A number of Pittsburgh and Greensburg capitalists 
formed this company for the purpose of disposing of the 
natural gas output of the Grapeville field, through a num- 
ber of the towns of the southwestern part of the state. 

A franchise was secured to occupy with its pipe lines 
the streets of Connellsville sometime in 1886. E. E. Crocker 
had charge of the construction work and was general su- 
perintendent of the company with headquarters in Connells- 
ville. J. M. West was the office man at Connellsville — 
succeeded by P. B. Malone. The office was located in what 
is now the first floor of the Elk's home. The work was 
pushed rapidly to completion and in a short time the gas 
was turned into the mains. The natural gas supply was 
thought at that time to be inexhaustible, therefore the pro- 



4-33 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

duct was sold by contract, and if the house got too hot 
for the user he never thought of turning off the gas — he 
raised the window instead, and contributed his part towards 
heating "all out doors" — the price was the same ! 

Connellsville contracted for the lighting of the town 
with a number of flambeaux — in the light of modern ex- 
perience it is said that one of these lights wasted enough 
gas to heat two or three ordinary houses for the same time. 
They were seldom turned out — night or day — as it was too 
much trouble to light them. 

This unpardonable waste eventually exhausted the sup- 
ply, and Connellsville faced the condition of being deprived 
of one of the greatest conveniences and blessmgs of modtrn 
life. 

This continued for about two years — the South West 
Natural Gas Company having meantime sold its pipe line 
from Connellsville to Uniontown to the Redstone Water 
Company to be used as a water line for the Oliver Coke 
Works at Redstone Junction. 

THE FAYETTE FUEL GAS COMPANY 

then entered the field and Connellsville was supplied on a 
meter basis. This corporation was composed chiefly of 
Uniontown people of whom J. K. Ewing, Jr., was the lead- 
ing spirit, and continued the business for a number of 
years — undergoing a reorganization with slight change of 
name to the 

FAYETTE GAS-FUEL COMPANY. 

In the summer of 1900 this company was absorbed by 
the Fayette County Gas Company, which has been furnish- 
ing a good supply of gas since. Its wells are located in 
Southern Fayette and Green counties, Pennsylvania and 
in West Virginia. Every efifort is made to husband the 
output of its wells, and the use of gas as a domestic fuel 
encouraged rather than for manufacturing purposes. 

J. W. Reeser is the Connellsville representative of the 
company. 



CHAPTER XII. 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. 



CARNEGIE FREE LIBRARY. 

In this day of great business enterprises, the trained 
thinker is a necessity. The man who can think clearly and 
continuously in Greek. Latin, history or literature can apply 
the same mental powers to methods of business, whether 
in its planning and financiering, or in its production and 
distribution. 

This plan of training we call education. This training 
can be obtained in our schools, in our libraries, or, perhaps, 
in the active business of life. 

In the three great professions of life, college training 
is an absolute necessity. Without it, a man in these pro- 
fessions, is only a weakling and handicapped for life. 
Those who obtain their training in the business world, have 
first to meet with many failures and disappointments, as is 
shown by the 95 per cent of failures in all classes of busi- 
ness. This large per cent of failures is due almost entirely 
to the one fact, they are not trained thinkers. 

Many men have not had the advantages to be obtained 
at school and, moreover, have passed the school age. To 
those who have mapped out a business course for them- 
selves and who do not wish to add to the great per cent of 
failures, there is but one avenue of self-improvement left 
open, namely, the library, or, the education to be obtained 
from books. 

The founder of this institution obtained his business 
education from a small library of 400 volumes opened to 
him free once a week. On account of the great benefit 
derived from this small collection of books, he resolved to 
use a large part of his great fortune to benefit others in a 
like manner. 

433 



434 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Education in the public schools today is not only free 
but it is also compulsory. The most valuable accessory to 
the public school is the library, which is not only an aid 
to the pupil while in school, but furnishes a post-graduate 
course for him after leaving school. 

The influence of the library for good is always marked. 
Its whole tendency is to uplift and benefit, and every true 
teacher keenly appreciates the value of a public library as 
a public educator. 

If Connellsville wishes to be prosperous in years to 
come, it will become so in proportion as it causes its edu- 
cational institutions to prosper and grow. Education can 
make this community one of the greatest in this country 
and every cent contributed toward that object will help to 
make more prosperous business men and better citizens. 

In the same year that this Borough was chartered, on 
January 38, 1800, a small group of men met in the log 
school house and organized a debating club called the 
"Polemic Society." Its constitution would be a model for 
this day. It was signed by thirteen men as follows : George 
Mathiot, John B. Trevor, Peter Bass, William Davies, 
Stewart H. Whitehill, Petty Engle, David Barnes, Wm. 
McCormick, John Mefford, Jacob D. Mathiot, Baltzer Sni- 
der, David Melick and John Mahaffy. The questions de- 
bated at the first meeting were, first : "Was it good policy 
in our government to make the purchase of Louisiana?" and 
"Ought the Governor of any state to fill all the offices 
under his jurisdiction with men of his own political 
principles?" At a later meeting a motion was passed that 
all books owned by the different members should be loaned 
to those who were appointed to debate. This is the first 
historical mention of the free interchange of books in Con- 
nellsville. 

Later a small circulating library of about 400 volumes 
was established in Connellsville by P. J. Collins. J. C. Moore 
was elected librarian and the books were circulated from his 
drug store. The selection of books was not very satisfac- 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 435 

tory and the stockholders soon abandoned their use. By 
vote of the stockholders, this lot of books was donated to 
the Cottage State Hospital on June 9th, 1893, and they 
are to be found today on the shelves of the Hospital library. 

Mr. Carnegie's policy of establishing free public libra- 
ries becoming known, it was only natural that the public 
spirited citizens of Connellsville should meet together and 
assume that their petition for a library would receive fa- 
vorable consideration from one who had made many mil- 
lions out of his investments in Connellsville coal. 

But every enterprise must have a leader and that bur- 
den rested upon the shoulders of Dr. J. C. McClenathan.^ 
He visited a number of the leading citizens and was assured 
of their interest in the project. He then took up the mat- 
ter with the different members of the Town Council. Af- 
ter securing their promise of co-operation, the following 
resolutions were passed on April 14, 1899, at a special 
meeting of council called for the purpose of considering 
the library proposition. 

WHEREAS, In this day of educational progress, . 
Connellsville is sadly lacking in one of the essential re- 
quisites of enlightenment, namely, a public library, there 
being at present no collection of books or periodicals of any 
kind accessible to our reading public; and, 

WHEREAS, Mr. Andrew Carnegie, the great Amer- 
ican manufacturer and philanthropist, has caused to be 
built in different localities magnificent libraries, which he 
has generously endowed and dedicated to the free use of 
the public of the general dissemination of knowledge, to 
the worthy and patriotic end that the people may become 
wiser and better citizens ; and 

WHEREAS, Mr. Andrew Carnegie is a leading stock- 
holder in the H. C. Frick Coke Company, which company 
employs, in the section of which Connellsville is the nat- 
ural commercial and gregarious center, thousands of peo- 
ple who will be afforded an opportunity to better their con- 
dition and the condition of their children by the location in 
their midst of a public library ; and 



436 CENTENNIAL HISTUIY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

WHEREAS, It has been suggested by leading citi- 
zens of Connellsville that the Burgess and Town Council 
take this matter up in their official capacity and present it 
to Mr. Carnegie with a request for its favorable consid- 
eration, therefore be it 

RESOLVED, That our earnest co-operation and 
hearty support is extended to the movement to procure a 
Carnegie Library at Connellsville, and, in the event of a 
favorable consideration of the matter by Mr. Carnegie, the 
Borough's faith is hereby pledged to furnish a proper site 
for the library, and to guarantee its maintenance in case 
of the failure of any endowment which the founder may 
make toward its support. 

RESOLVED, That the President appoint a committee 
to act in conjunction with the Burgess and Town Council 
in carrying these resolutions into effect. 

Clair Stillwagon, 

President. 
Attest : 

George B. Brown, Clerk. 

Approved this loth day of April, 1899. 

J. S. Bryner, 

Burgess. 

The resolutions were adopted and the President was 
instructed to appoint a committee to act in accordance 
therewith. 

The President appointed the following committee : 
L. F. Ruth, L C. Smutz, 

E. Dunn, H. Coll, 

J. D. Frisbee, B. F. Boyts, 

H. P. Snyder, G. J. Humbert, 

H. C. Huston, Rev. Dr. T. S. Cartright, 

Chas. Davidson, E. C. Higbee, Esq., 

J. M. Raid, Dr. J. C. McClenathan, 

Rev. W. A. Edie, H. P. Berryhill, 

Rev. E. B. Burgess, C. W. Mauk, 

Rev. G. W. Morris, J. S. Brvner, 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 437 

Rev. John Burns, John Soisson, 

Clair Stillwagon, J as. C. Munson, 

R. Marietta, J. S. Norris, 

J. D. Wilson, H. M. Kerr, 

J. T. McCormick, Rev. J. B. Risk. 

Geo. A. Markle, 

This meeting of the Town Council marked the begin- 
ning of a new era in Connellsville. These councilmen 
builded better than they thought, when they laid the foun- 
dation of a popular educational institution to create better 
citizens. The city and the state furnish free education to 
the masses, even compelling them to accept such instruc- 
tion as will better their situation in life, and prepare them 
to take an intelligent part in the conduct of our govern- 
ment. This wise policy which opens the doors of our free 
schools to the children to teach them to read suggests the 
plan be completed by furnishing them what they should 
read. 

The citizens committee appointed by council at this 
meeting to formulate a proposition to submit to Mr. Car- 
negie met on the following Tuesday evening in old City 
Hall. This committee organized by electing Dr. J. C. Mc- 
Clenathan, president, and Aloysius Coll, secretary. This 
was an open meeting and was largely attended by the citi- 
zens of the town, each one expressing his own individual 
opinion of what was best to be done. 

After a full and free discussion, it was decided to 
appoint a committee of two to write to Mr. Andrew Car- 
negie, expressing their views and requesting his assistance. 
Dr. J. C. McClenathan and Dr. T. S. Cartwright were ap- 
pointed to perform this duty. 

On April 19th, 1899, a letter was mailed to Mr. Car- 
negie expressing the sentiments of the meeting and appeal- 
ing to him for assistance. Some fear was at once ex- 
pressed that we were too late in making our wants known, 
as Mr. Carnegie was to sail for Europe in a few days. An- 
other public meeting was held on Friday evening and ar- 



438 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

rangements were completed for sending a committee di- 
rectly to Mr. Carnegie by Monday evening, in case no word 
should be received from him by that time. 

On Monday, April 24th, 1899, a letter was received 
by Dr. J. C. McClenathan from Mr. Carnegie which relieved 
the committee of the necessity of making the trip to New 
York. Results came very quickly from the organized ef- 
forts of the previous week and caused universal rejoicing 
in the aquisition of so noble and magnificent a gift from 
Mr. Carnegie. The following is a copy of the letter re- 
ceived : 

NEW YORK, N. Y., April 22nd, 1899. 
Dr. J. C. McClenathan, Connellsville, Pa. 

Dear Sir: — In reply to yours of the 19th, I will be pleased 
to give $50,000.00 for the desired library building, provided a 
suitable site is furnished and the council agrees to grant a fund 
annually to maintain and operate the library. 

I am sending a copy of this to President Frew of the Insti- 
tute at Pittsburgh with whom you can communicate, as I sail 
next week. 

Wishing you success in your efforts. 
Yours very truly, 

ANDREW CARNEGIE. 

A general meeting was called by the chairman for 
Monday evening, April 24 in the old City Hall. The hall 
was well filled, the meeting taking the form of a jubilee to 
return thanks to Mr. Andrew Carnegie. A committee was 
appointed to send the glad news of our rejoicing and our 
thanks to Mr. Carnegie. 

On Tuesday morning the committee, consisting of H. 
P. Snyder, J. B. Risk and T. S. Cartwright, wired the fol- 
lowing resolutions : 

"At a full meeting of our general committee, held last 
evening, the following minutes were adopted, and, by order 
of the meeting, are now sent to you : 

First. — The meeting gratefully appreciates your gen- 
erous offer to give $50,000 toward the establishment of a 
free library for the Connellsville coke region. 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 439 

Second. — The meeting, while assuring you of its pro- 
found gratitude and joy, would also guarantee compliance 
with your stipulated conditions for a suitable site and ade- 
quate support. 

Third. — The meeting records its conviction that your 
philanthropic example will have a beneficial influence on 
public sentiment and feeling, while the library itself will 
aid greatly in the work of social reform, and intellectual and 
religious progress. 

Fourth. — The meeting thanks you publicly for your 
noble gift, and hopes for increasing success in your gigantic 
undertakings, and wishes bon voyage for you and your 
family." 

At the meeting the chairman was directed to appoint a 
committee of five to take general charge of the library 
work. A committee of two was appointed to visit Mr. 
W. N. Frew to ascertain what requirements would be nec- 
essary to obtain the appropriation. 

The School Board, Town Council and the general Li- 
brary Committee met on the following Tuesdav evening in 
joint session in the Council Chamber. Secretary Welsh 
reported for the School Board how that body could con- 
demn the old grave yard. Solicitor Higbee stated how 
the Town Council could obtain possession of the same 
grounds, but stated that, in his opinion, it would be better 
for the School Board to proceed with the condemnation 
of the old cemetery. 

The library committee at once agreed with the Town 
Council and the School Board that the proper location for 
the proposed new library building was the old cemetery. 

As a result of this meeting, the School Board was in- 
structed to proceed to condemn the old ''Council Grave 
Yard" for a site for the library building. Dr. T. S. Cart- 
wright and Dr. J. C. McClenathan in a few days visited Mr. 
W. N. Frew, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the 
Carnegie Institute. Mr. Frew stated that a site must be 



440 CENTENNIAL ^HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

first obtained and a fund of $4,000.00 to $5,000.00 be annu- 
ally guaranteed by the Town Council. 

On August 11th, the School Board elected an attorney 
for the ensuing year and instructed him to proceed with 
the work of condemning the cemetery for library purposes. 
The members of the school board for this year were Dr. 
S. D. Woods, W. S. Schenck, F. E. Markell, J. S. Norris, 
H. S. Howard and J. C. McClenathan. It required almost 
one year for the school board to condemn the ground and 
remove the bodies from the old cemetery. 

They had first to ask the court to condemn the grounds, 
then appoint a jury to assess the damages and wait for an- 
other session of court to have this act confirmed. A lot 
in the Chestnut Hill cemetery was purchased, an order se- 
cured from the court to move the bodies, which order had 
to be properly advertised and confirmed before any work 
could be begun. 

After all this work was completed, the auditors of the 
Borough at first refused to allow this expense, and sur- 
charged the treasurer, W. S. Schenck with the amount of 
money expended, which amounted to about $3,000.00. 

x\fter the misrepresentations which had been made to 
the auditors had been corrected and the facts made clear 
to them, two members of the auditing board, L. A. How- 
ard and J. J. Donnelly made and signed an amended report 
granting this expense, on November 16, 1900. Thus ended, 
in failure, the first attempt to injure the library cause. 

On April 2d, 1900, the School Board passed a resolu- 
tion to assess a one mill tax for the maintenance of the 
library as follows : 

Be it resolved by the Board of School Directors of 
Connellsville Borough : 

First. — On condition that Mr. Andrew Carnegie build 
and erect on said land, a suitable library building, costing 
at least the sum of fifty thousand dollars, the lot. lately 
known as the Council grave yard, be donated or held under 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 441 

such arrangements as may hereafter be agreed upon by 
the board and Mr. Carnegie. 

Second. — That the tax of one mill upon the assessed 
valuation of the district be levied and collected for this year 
in the same manner as other taxes are by law collected to 
be paid over monthly to the trustees aforesaid for the sup- 
port and maintenance of said library. 

Third. — That it is the sentiment of the board that the 
school district should hereafter regularly and annually con- 
tribute (not to exceed one mill) to the support of said li- 
brary. 

Fourth. — That the representative of Mr. Carnegie be 
invited to meet with the board or a committee appointed 
by the board at such time and place as may be convenient, 
to arrange upon a plan for the control and management 
of the proposed library, which will be satisfactory to both 
and agreeable to law. 

At the next meeting of the school board, on April 9th, 
1900, three of its members were elected to serve on the 
Board of Trustees of the Library, as follows : Dr. S. D. 
Woods, W. S. Schenck and H. S. Howard. 

The selection of the beautiful location which the library 
building now occupies, is due chiefly to the efforts of the 
members of the school board who were serving at tliat 
time. 

When the members of the general committee visited 
Mr. Frew, he was asked his opinion of the best method of 
selecting a board of trustees for the library. He emphati- 
cally stated his opinion that we should follow Mr. Carnegie's 
idea and select one half the board as a permanent body and 
divide the other members equally between the school board 
and the Town Council, as the Institute Board of Pittsburgh 
had been formed. Mr. C. C. Mellor, chairman of the art 
committee, very positively endorsed the same plan. 

This plan was then adopted for Connellsville, Mr. Car- 
negie appointed six citizens of the Borough, who had been 
recommended by Mr. Frew, as permanent members of the 



443, CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Board of Trustees for the library. This committee of six 
members was at once approved by the Town Council at a 
regular meeting" held April 3nd, 1900, as follows: 

On motion of Marcus Marietta, seconded by Jacob 
Brickman, the following named persons selected by Mr. 
Carnegie as permanent trustees for the Carnegie Free 
Library be approved: E. Dunn. Dr. J. C. McClenathan, 
Rockwell Marietta. L. F". Ruth, H. P. Snyder and W. H. 
Hugus. 

At a regular meeting of council held April 16th, 1900, 
the following resolution was passed : 

A committee on public library appeared before coun- 
cil asking the council to set aside one mill of the taxation 
of the Borough for 1900, and on motion of Jacob Brick- 
man, seconded by L. E. Bishop, the following resolution 
was adopted : 

Resolved: That we appropriate one mill of the money 
collected and paid to the Borough treasurer, beginning with 
the year nineteen hundred (1900), to be paid to the treas- 
urer of the Carnegie Free Library to be used for the annual 
maintenance thereof. 

On April 10th, 1900, the six permanent members, the 
three members appointed by the school board and the three 
members selected by the council, making twelve members 
in all, met in the Council Chamber to organize. The fol- 
lowing officers were elected: President, Dr. J. C. McClen- 
athan ; Vice President, Rockwell Marietta ; Secretary, H. 
P. Snyder, and Treasurer, L. F. Ruth. 

On April 18th, 1900, the following petition was pre- 
pared by some of the opponents of the library and addressed 
to Mr. Carnegie : 

"Dear Sir : — In order to apprise you of the state of 
public sentiment in reference to your proposition to give 
$50,000.00 toward the erection of a public library in Con- 
nellsville. Pa., provided a site be donated, and provision be 
made to maintain it, we, the undersigned citizens and tax- 
payers of the Borough, while appreciating the generosity 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 443 

of your offer, would respectfully enter out protest against 
burdening the town with a debt that it can ill afford to 
incur under existing conditions. 

The parties having the matter in charge have neither 
subscribed anything themselves, nor do they intend*to raise 
the necessary funds by voluntary donations, but propose 
to perpetually obligate the Borough corporation for main- 
tenance by taxation and to invite litigation from the original 
proprietors of the town, for the library site, which was 
deeded to the Borough for the purpose of a cemetery. 

In order to raise the necessary amount for the main- 
tenance of the library, it will require a two mill tax on the 
present valuation of the property of the Borough, while 
the town is in sad need of sanitary improvements, being 
unsewered, and having but a small proportion of the streets 
paved. Sewers must be provided in the near future and 
the town is already in debt almost to the legal limit, yet 
the promoters of the library scheme propose to obligate the 
town to far more than the legal limit of indebtedness. 

We are persuaded, from a slight canvass of public 
opinion, that a large majority of property holders in the 
town are opposed to assuming this indebtedness, and, while 
appreciating your generosity in the matter, would respect- 
fully request that you withhold your donation until the pro- 
moters provide for the expense of maintenance by voluntary 
contributions." 

After a thorough canvass of the town, a small list of 
names was obtained and the petition sent to Mr. W. N. 
Frew, requesting him to forward it to Mr. Carnegie. Mr. 
Frew immediately answered the petition by saying, 'Tt is 
hardly necessary for me to do so, as, beyond question, it 
would be immediately returned to me for action. In any 
event, Mr. Carnegie would naturally feel that he could 
not withdraw his offer unless the authorities of Connells- 
ville decline to accede to the conditions attached to it. If 
the ground on which to locate the building is secured and 
the tax levying body, presumably elected by the people. 



444 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

legally provides a sum for the maintenance of the library, 
it will be evidence to Mr. Carnegie that his proposition has 
been accepted by the people. If the situation is as you say, 
his offer will, of course, fall to the ground." 

Witli a restatement of the conditions of the gift, Mr. 
Frew closed his letter, which, when read and understood, 
was a very flat refusal to pay any attention to the petition. 

The work of the school board, in its condemnation of 
the old cemetery and the removal of the bodies interred 
therein, having been completed, a deed was executed by 
the school board, transferring all of its claim and right to 
the plot of ground, to the board of trustees of the library, 
on May 15th, 1900. 

AGREEMENT WTfR THE SCHOOL BOARD. 

"An agreement made and entered into this 15th day 
of May, 1900, between the school board and the board of 
trustees of the library and duly signed by the officers of 
each party, expressly states that : 

"First. — The school board hereby agrees to pay 
monthly to the treasurer of the said library trustees all 
monies received by the board as the proceeds of any tax 
levy made by them for the purpose of aiding or assisting in 
the equipment or maintenance of the said Carnegie Free 
Library. 

Second. — The school board, having elected three per- 
sons to represent them upon the Board of Trustees of the 
said Carnegie Free Library, for one, two or three years 
respectively, shall each year hereafter elect one person to 
fill the vacancies occurring by the expiration of the term 
of the persons now chosen, or by their earlier death, res- 
ignation or removal, which persons hereafter elected shall 
hold their position for the period of three years, or until 
their successors are chosen. 

Third. — In consideration of the assistance to be re- 
ceived from the said school board, the said trustees of the 
Carnegie Free Library, hereby agree that they will annu- 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 445 

ally report to the school board an account of the expendi- 
tures of the monies received from said board, said account 
to be verified by the affidavit of their secretary and treas- 
urer, manager or other proper officer and said account shall 
be subject to the examination and correction of the auditors 
by whom the accounts of the school board are audited in 
like manner as the accounts of the said board." 

After receiving the guarantee of maintenance from 
both the Town Council and the school board, and having 
a title to the old cemetery, the library trustees sent a com- 
mittee to Mr. Frew to submit these facts to him, and, on 
January 4th, 1901, Mr. Frew directed the Board of Trus- 
tees of the library, in a letter directed to the president, to 
proceed to erect the library building. 

It was decided to receive competitive sketches for a 
library building from different architects. Eight different 
sketches were presented, and, after a careful examination^ 
the selection for the most satisfactory sketch fell to Mr. 
J. M. McCollum of Pittsburgh, Pa. This selection was 
made at a full board meeting on March 12th, 1901. The 
architect, Mr. McCollum, was directed to complete his plans 
and specifications at once. 

After duly advertising for bids for the erection of the 
library building, the trustees met on April 30, 1901, and 
examined bids from five different contractors, and awarded 
the contract to J. A. Nixon of Titusville, Pa., he being the 
lowest bidder. 

The contract price of the building alone was $39,850.00. 
To this must be added extra for foundation, grading, low 
pressure steam heating plant, steel book stack, interior wood 
furniture, all gas and electric fixtures, seats for lecture hall,, 
frescoing, cementing the basement, architect's commission, 
etc., etc. All of these contracts were let separately to 
save the commission of the general contractor. The work 
of erecting the building began in May, 1901. 

The corner stone was laid Wednesday, July 31, 1901. 
After a heavy rain in the morning, making the region very 



446 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

muddy, the beautiful warm rays of the sun shone down 
on the assembled throng just as the ceremonies began. This 
was the auspicious beginning of a glad triumph of educa- 
tion in Connellsville. 

Following the invocation, delivered by Rev. M. J. 
Sleppy, Dr. J. C. McClenathan, the chairman of the Board 
of Trustees said, "The Trustees have thought best today to 
lay a corner-stone to mark the beginning of a movement 
that will be a mile stone in the history of this town. We 
are today making history that will be remembered and 
looked to as long as Connellsville shall exist. No one event 
will be pointed to in the future, as marking the progress 
of the town, both intellectually and morally, more than the 
laying of this corner-stone. This library will be a great 
factor in the home life of the people of Connellsville." 

Rev. W. A. Edie was then introduced and, in part, 
said: "This is an interesting occasion. There has been 
no event in the history of Connellsville more gratifying than 
the one this morning. Today we lay the corner-stone of an 
enterprise that will be a public benefit and a public blessing. 
We are thankful to the Trustees who have labored patiently 
and carried out their purpose, and congratulate them on 
their success." 

The next speaker introduced was Attorney General 
John P. Elkins, who said: "There was a time when it was 
thought unnecessary that the masses should be educated, 
but that time has passed. The library goes hand in hand 
with the church and school. The base of civilization is the 
civilization of righteousness, school, church and library." 

Colonel James E. Barnet, a graduate of the Connells- 
ville schools, when introduced, proceeded to lay the corner- 
stone. A cylindrical shaped receptacle, made of aluminum, 
containing copies of our town papers, documents referring 
to the library. Borough affairs, and various other data of 
importance to the present time, was placed in the corner- 
stone. 

The Colonel then said : "In laying the corner-stone of 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 447 

this building, you are not merely putting in place an inor- 
ganic block. You are laying the foundation of increased 
knowledge, happiness, enjoyment and improvement in your 
community. Within the walls to be erected, you and your 
sons and daughters and generations yet to come, can sur- 
vey the whole horizon of human existence and achieve- 
ment." 

The library building, which is constructed of buff sand 
stone with a tile roof, is two stories high with an eleven- 
foot basement. The first floor plan consists of a general 
reading room, a children's reading room, a periodical room, 
a reference room, and a large delivery lobby which is 
reached by the main entrance and two side entrances. Im- 
mediately back of the delivery desk is the metal stack room 
with space for 20,000 volumes which can be increased to 
80,000. Each of the large reading rooms will seat 54 people. 

The second floor contains a lecture hall with a seat- 
ing capacity of 500, a trustees room and a club room. The 
two floors are fireproof. The delivery desk is so situated 
as to command a view of the entire first floor and the two 
stairways leading to the second floor, all of the partitions 
down stairs being made of plate glass. This arrangement 
gives complete supervision of the lower floor to the librarian 
at her desk. Open shelves are used, the entrance to them 
being through turnstiles at the sides of the delivery desk. 

The construction of the building was delayed by strikes 
and inability to obtain the stone of which the walls are 
built, so that it was not completed and taken oft' the hands 
of the contractor until March, 1903. 

As the building was nearing completion, the Trustees 
were diligently searching for a suitable librarian. The 
President of the Board of Trustees had letters and recom- 
mendations from over twenty different applicants. On 
May 12th, 1902, Miss Anna Bonnell Day, a graduate of 
the Drexel Institute Library School, was elected to the 
position. This popular and efficient librarian still holds 
that office. 



448 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

On November 7th, 1902, the Trustees decided to ex- 
pend not more than $3,000.00 in the purchase of books 
for the library. About 2,500 volumes were purchased and 
some sixty periodicals were ordered for the use of the 
library. The books were catalogued and prepared for use 
by Miss Day and her assistants. The library was formally 
opened by appropriate exercises on the last day of April, 
1903. 

The opening prayer was made by Rev. E. B. Burgess. 
Mr. H. P. Snyder, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, 
read a number of letters of a congratulatory nature from 
Mr. Carnegie and others, and made a few additional re- 
marks. 

Mr. E. C. Higbee, President of the School Board, 
said, "The library is here. It is not a hope or a promise, 
but a substantial reality, and we ought to be proud to main- 
tain it. It is now open and it is a mighty power in this 
intelligent age. It wields a powerful influence for good, 
and makes a better town, morally, financially and intel- 
lectually." 

Mr. H. L. Robinson, counsel for the School Board 
and for the Library Trustees, gave a history of the rise and 
progress of the library movement in Connellsville, from 
its inception over three years before, until its final com- 
pletion and opening to the public. 

"This day is one to be marked by a white stone in 
the history of Connellsville. The establishment and main- 
tenance of this institution means more to the town than 
the establishment of a first-class rolling mill. Where there 
are no books there are no rolling mills, no coke ovens, no 
business. The success of men of little education does not 
prove the uselessness of education. The success of the 
ignorant man is not due to that fact, but to the fact that 
other men were not like him." 

Mr. W. M. Stevenson, Librarian of the Carnegie Li- 
brary, Allegheny, said, "A great deal has been said and 
written about what the public library can do for the citizen. 



450 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

It has been called the universitv of the people, the poor 
man's college, and I was going to add a new name, the 
post-graduate school of self-help. The public library is 
simply a continuation of our public school system, whose 
chief purpose is to prepare the youth of the land to be useful 
men and women in the community. The American plan 
of education has one principal aim in view, that of making 
good citizens. 

"Andrew Carnegie sounded the keynote of the art of 
giving years ago, when he declared that unless gifts were 
so bestowed as to help men to help themselves, it were 
better that all such gifts were cast into the depths of the 
sea. Over half a century ago. Col. James Anderson, of 
Allegheny, founded a library for the use of apprentices 
of that city. 

"Among the lads who came every week to receive 
books was Mr. Carnegie, then a bobbin bo}^ in a factory, 
earning $1.20 a week. Impressed by the advantages offered 
to the working classes bv a library, the boy, Carnegie, then 
resolved that, if ever surplus wealth came to him, it would 
be spent in founding public libraries. What was then a 
boy's day-dream, has now become a glorious reality. Every 
man, woman and child has a proprietary interest in this 
library, and all the citizens are, in a certain sense, the cus- 
todians and guardians of these books. The citizens ought 
to be vigilant at all times to see that the municipal author- 
ities appropriate a sufficient amount annually for the main- 
tenance of the public library." 

Mr. Stevenson then urged the councilmen and school 
directors to interest themselves in behalf of the success of 
the library. In conclusion, he presented the library to Con- 
nellsville in a few graceful words. 

Dr. J. C. McClenathan, President of the Board of 
Trustees, accepted the new library in behalf of the Trus- 
tees. After reviewing the historv of the library from its 
inception, he concluded in the words of Andrew Carnegie. 
"I now pronounce this library open to the public, without 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 451 

money and without jirice, in the confident l^eHef that it will 
prove the fountain from which onlv healing" waters shall 
fiow." 

On the followini^' mornin,^'. May 1st. \do:]. the doors 
of the library were opened to the people. The circulation 
of books on the first dav was 2(>S volumes and this use of 
the library continues to be lart^e. far surpassing' the most 
ardent hopes of its friends. 

The Trustees had ordered the books and magazines 
and had assumed the running" expenses, but not a dollar 
was given them until ( )ctober. 1!>(>4. IS months after the 
library was opened. 

The Town Council had changed its political makeup, 
and the new councilmen refused to give any aid or assist- 
ance, thus repudiating" the agreement made with Mr. Car- 
negie. 

The opposition circulated a petition from the close of 
the polls in February until the June meeting of Council, 
by which time they had secured the signature of 1"M voters 
out of 1,600. No less than fifty of these signers were men 
whose families were making use of the library. The 
friends of the institution then prepared a petition request- 
ing the Council and School Board to fulfil their just obli- 
gation, and in one day several hundred signatures were 
obtained. 

It stated, "We think it is your duty to encourage the 
library in every possible way, and especially by making the 
appropriation for maintenance pledged by a former Council 
and School Board. The public faith should not be dishon- 
ored, especially in view of the patent fact that the town 
has received and is making use of Andrew Carnegie's monev 
contributed upon the express condition that the mainte- 
nance should be provided equally by the School Hoard and 
the Town Council." 

The School Board appropriated $•?, 000.00 for Library 
maintenance and then employed D. 'SI. Hertzog. an attor- 
ney, who told them they could not make an ap])ropriation. 



452 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

but would have to levy a special tax. This ruling was 
received November 31, 1903. 

At the first meeting" of Council in January, 1904, a 
petition, signed by 13T voters, was submitted, requesting 
that body to sul^mit the question of maintenance of the 
library to a vote of the i3eople. according to an act of 
Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, date, 
June 17th, 1901, P. L. 569. 

An ordinance was passed January 5th, 1904, submit- 
ting to a vote of the electors of the Borough the question, 
"Whether or not the said borough shall maintain, or assist 
in maintaining, the Carnegie Free Library, out of a fund 
raised by the imposition of a tax of one mill for that 
purpose by the Borough Council." 

First, That at the regular election to be held in February, 
nineteen hundred and four, the question whether the Carnegie 
Free Library, located in the Borough of Connellsville, shall be 
maintained or assisted out of the fund raised by the imposition 
of a tax of one mill upon all the property in the said Borough, 
taxable for Borough purposes, shall be submitted to the vote 
of the duly qualified electors of the said Borough. 

Second, That if the said question be determined in the 
affirmative at the said election, the said rate of taxation or 
appropriation, for said purpose shall not be changed until such 
change be authorized or directed by a subsequent popular vote. 

Third, That if said question be determined in the affirma- 
tive as aforesaid, Council shall proceed, as soon as practicable, 
to devise plans for properly giving effect to the wfill of the 
people thus expressed. 

Fourth, That the proper officers having charge of the prep- 
aration of the official ballot shall also have prepared for use 
at said election, a separate ballot as near as possible in the 
following form: 

LIBRARY BALLOT. 

The question to be determined by this ballot is, whether 
the Borough of Connellsville shall maintain or assist in main- 
taining the Carnegie Free Library now located in this town, out 
of a fund raised by the imposition of a tax of one mill for that 
purpose by the Borough Council. 

To vote for the measure, make a (X) cross in the square 



PUBLIC IXSTITUTIOXS 453 



to the right of the words "For the Library;" to vote against it 
make a (X) cross in the square to the right of the words 
^'Against the Library." 



FOR THE LIBRARY 



AGAINST THE LIBRARY 



Fifth, This ordinance shall be printed in two daily papers 
published in this Borough for three consecutive weeks imme- 
diately prior to election da}-, and printed copies of said ordi- 
nance shall be properly posted by the constables at the same 
time and in the same places as the regular election proclama- 
tion." 

This election was helvl February 16th, 1904. Out of 
a total Hbrary vote of 1,303, TGT taxpayers voted for it 
and 536 against it, giving" a majority of 231 votes to main- 
tain the honor of the town. 

During the year 1904: the School Board levied a special 
tax of one mill for the maintenance of the library ; in 
1905, one mill, and in 1906, one-half a mill. Early in the 
year 1904 the Council voted the library $1,000.00 for its 
expenses. In 1905 the library received $1,500.00 from the 
same source, and in 1906 $1,000.00, making in all $3,500.00 
contributed by the Council during the four years the library 
has been open. 

The old Connell grave yard contained almost one acre 
of ground, but it did not front on Pittsburgh street, and 
was bounded on two sides by twenty-foot alleys and on 
the other side by land owned by the Hogg heirs and others. 
The hump of earth directly in front of the library was 
twenty feet high. 

The Board of Trustees began the work of improving 
this lot by widening the two alleys to make thirt^■-foot 
streets and petitioned the County Court to grant the re- 
quest. Arrangements were then made to have the street 
above the library paved. One of the adjoining lots had 
alread}^ been purchased when it was discovered that it was 



454 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

impossible to purchase tlie others and that there was no 
law to compel the owners to sell. 

Dr. J. C. McClenathan prepared an Act "Authorizing 
borough councils or school boards of this Commonwealth 
to purchase, acquire, take, use and appropriate private 
property for public library purposes, and providing the man- 
ner in which damages sustained thereby shall be assessed 
and collected." This act was approved by Governor Stone, 
May 11th. 1901. P. L. 136. 

The passing" of the act was chiefly due to the brilliant 
work of Mr. George M. Hosack, then a member of the 
General Assembly of this state from Pittsburgh. 

The Town Council took immediate action under this 
law and condemned all the ground in the square adjoin- 
ing the library grounds. Viewers were appointed by the 
Court to assess the damages. Both parties appealed from 
their decision. The trial by the Court and jury to assess 
the amount of damages for taking the property was then 
held, but the amount of damage was so large that the 
Town Council could not at that time accept it. 

In ever}' movement from the beginning the Trustees 
had met with some form of determined opposition, but they 
knew not defeat, and with the people's welfare, as a light 
burning in the long stretch of darkness ahead, thev battled 
toward that guiding star, undaunted by all obstacles. They 
achieved success because they were fighting for the right. 

On ^Nlarch 15th, 1904, a committee, consisting of Capt. 
E. Dunn. R. ^larietta, Clair Stillwagon, L. F. Ruth and 
Dr. J. C. ]\IcClenathan, left for New York to visit Mr. 
Andrew Carnegie to ask him to aid them in purchasing 
and improving the grounds in front of and to the south 
of the library building. 

The next day this committee visited Mr. Carnegie in 
his residence on Fifth Avenue. They were met at the door 
by a servant in green livery, it being St. Patrick's day, 
but not very early in the morning, and simply announced 
themselves as a library committee from Connellsville. Thev 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 455 

were immediately ushered into the magnificent hah and then 
notified that Mr. Carnegie would see them for two or three 
minutes. Mr. Carnegie received them in his library where 
he showed them many of his quaint and curious letters 
received from kings and potentates from all over the world, 
in response to his donations for libraries. They were then 
shown into his private office, where they discussed the 
needs of the Connellsville library. Air. Carnegie is quick 
and wittv in conversation and his few minutes had been 
stretched to one full hour, yet no aid for Connellsville. 
He had forgotten the Parisian artist who was painting his 
picture. Once more the need of funds to purchase the 
lots adjoining the library was mentioned, when the answer 
came quickly and sharply, "I will not do it." With a few 
words of farewell, the committee went out of his residence, 
a disappointed lot of men. It was then decided to draw 
up a set of resolutions and send them to ]\lr. Carnegie 
by letter. 

These resolutions were written on Fifth Avenue Hotel 
letter heads. They recounted the trials and tribulations 
which the library had weathered and closed with a printed 
ballot that had been used at the February election when 
the question of maintaining the library had been voted 
upon. Each of the five men affixed his signature and the 
letter was sent to Mr. Carnegie by special delivery. 

Early the next morning, before the committee were 
all out of bed, a telephone call for Dr. J. C. McClenathan 
came to his room. In response to the inquiry, "Who is 
there," came the reply, "The 'dark" at the Carnegie house," 
and he immediately stated that ]\Ir. Carnegie had recon- 
sidered his reply of yesterday and begged leave to inform 
the committee that their request of the previous day would 
be granted. That a jubilee followed this announcement 
during the breakfast hour only states the fact moderately. 
In the first mail after the committee returned home, the 
following letter was received : 



456 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

NEW YORK, March 18th, 1904. 
Gentlemen of the Committee, Free Public Library, 
Connellsville, Pa. 

Dear Sir.s: — I do not agree witli you that if the doors of 
the Library were closed it would be a disgrace to me. I have 
never pressed communities to establish libraries. I have sim- 
ply agreed to comply with their requests. Whenever you have 
heard of a community refusing a library, rest assured it has 
been applied for, by or with the approval of the authorities of 
the city. I do think that the community which is not willing 
to maintain a library had better not possess it. It is only the 
feeling that the library belongs to every citizen, richest and 
poorest alike, that gives it a soul as it were. The library 
buildings which I am giving are the property of all the mem- 
bers of the communities which maintain them. 

You did not state to me in your interview that the Borough 
had refused to maintain the library until it was put in shape. 
I understood only that it was your desire to improve the ap- 
pearance of and access to the library, as a matter of pride, a 
very natural desire on the part of public-spirited citizens. But 
in providing libraries throughout the country, I must be gov- 
erned by rules, and if I undertake to give money for such 
things as patriotic citizens would ask it, I should soon get 
into trouble. I recognize your earnest public-spirited devotion 
to the cause, and in this case I will make an exception, and 
your drafts on Mr. Franks up to eighteen thousand dollars, 
will be paid, as j'ou expend the money for the purpose named. 

Let me say this to you in conclusion, that I cannot recollect 
any community of the size and population to which I have 
given so much money for a library building. Let me also say 
that I never met a more public-spirited, able committee. 
Very truly yours, 

ANDREW CARNEGIE. 

In a few days the treasurer received the amount pro- 
posed. An agreement was at once made with the owners 
of the property in the square adjoining the hbrary and 
it was deeded to the Board of Trustees. Bids for grading 
the grounds and builcHng the retaining wall and steps were 
received. It was found that the amount of money left after 
purchasing the property would not be sufficient to do this 
work by contract, so the Trustees decided to employ day 
labor and superintend the work themselves to make ends 
meet. 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 45? 

These were the first pubhc o-rounds to be beautified 
in the town, and a lesson in civic pride has been taught 
that has already brought about good results. 

When the reading habit has once been formed in child- 
hood, there is no one source of happiness so prolific as 
this in the after years of life, as it is a well known fact 
that many people read as much for amusement as for the 
acquisition of knowledge. 

The things that are told us when we are young abide 
with us longer and exert a greater influence on our thoughts 
and actions than much that we read in later life. In Sep- 
tember, 1903. Miss Day, the Librarian, inaugurated the 
"Story Hour" for the little children on Friday afternoons. 
Either she or the assistant. Miss Sara Seatoi\. has enter- 
tained the children with stories selected from the best fairy 
tales, fables, myths and religious stories suitable for the 
time and season. The object of this work is not only to 
entertain and instruct the children, but to form in them 
the habit of coming to the library, where their hungry little 
rninds are fed with the right kind of diet. The success 
of the "Story Hour" was instantaneous, the attendance 
during the first six months being 2, "22-1: children. This year 
a larger room than was formerly used has been fitted up 
in the basement for the work which has become a perma- 
nent feature of the library work. 

The second anniversary of the opening of the library 
was celebrated May 16th, 1905. Addresses were made by 
E. C. Higbee on "The Relation of the Schools to the 
Library" and the Secretary. H. P. Snyder, on the work of 
the library during the year. A very entertaining and 
instructive address was made by the State Librarian, Hon. 
T. L. Montgomery, of Harrisburg, on the "Development 
of Pennsylvania Libraries." A fine musical program accom- 
panied the exercises. 

The third Founders' Day exercises were held in the 
Library Hall on May 15th. 190G. Rev. E. B. Burgess 
•delivered an historical address on "The Founders of ( )ur 



458 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSX'ILLE 

City." The Secretary read the annual report of work 
done in the Library. 

The principal address of the occasion was made by 
A. H. Hopkins. Librarian of the Carnegie Library, Pitts- 
biii gli. Pa. His eloquent address was along the line of 
libiary work. (3ne of the chief features of the evening's 
entertainment was the charming" musical program rendered 
by soloists and a male chorus of Connellsville, under the 
efficient management of J. L. Rodrigues. 

REPORT OF CIRCULATION OF BOOKS IN CAR- 
NEGIE FREE LIBRARY FROM MAY, 1903, 
. TO MAY,- 190G. 

1903-04 1904-05 1905-06 total. 

General works . 441 840 790 2,071 

Philosophy 187 154 123 464 

Religion 288 259 243 790 

Sociology and folk-lore... 1,019 1,557 1,408 3,984 

Philology 11 18 14 43 

Natural science 472 351 451 1,374 

Useful arts 266 254 425 945 

Fine arts 348 378 541 1,267 

General literature 1,367 1,698 2,014 5,079 

Travels 783 717 814 2,314 

History 1,011 961 917 2,889 

Biography 673 473 492 1,63& 

Fiction 20,629 23,921 24,433 68,983 



-Totals 27,495 31,581 32,665 91.741 

At the end of the third year the library contained 4987 
volumes and had 2638 registered readers. 

The number of books read the last year was 32,665. 
In the circulating department there are about 4.000 books, 
so that each book was circulated on an average of eight 
times during the year, or, in other words, supposing there 
are 6,000 people in Connellsville who are able to read, 
during the vear the library circulated more than five books 



PUBLIC IxMSTITUTIONS 4.)i) 

for each one of these persons. This is an excee(Hng-lv good 
record, and. when we consider that a large proportion of 
our citizens are engaged in manufacture or railroad work, 
it makes the above statement even more remarkable. This 
is far above the average for other cities, and shows that our 
citizens are hungry for good reading. 

The periodical room is one of the most popular depart- 
ments in the library, and contains more than sixty of the 
standard magazines, literary, artistic, scientific and general. 
A number of the most poi)ular magazines are circulated 
when they are one month old. 

During the present year an arrangement has been made 
with the superintendent of schools by which each teacher 
has been furnished with a graded list of the books suitable 
for her grade. Each pupil is required to read a specified 
number of books from this list during the school vear, so 
that the library practically oversees the reading of all the 
pupils of the public school. 

ORGAXIZATION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 

At the beginning of the work, the organization of the 
Board was along the lines suggested by Mr. W. X. Frew, 
of the Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, to whom Mr. Carnegie 
referred our committee when he made the donation. The 
first Board of Trustees was constituted as follows : Dr. T 
C. McClenathan, President; Rockwell Marietta. Vice-Pres- 
ident: H. P. Snyder, Secretary; L. F. Ruth, Treasurer; 
Samuel H. Howard, Winfield S. Schenck, Dr. Samuel D. 
Woods, representing the School Board; Clair Stillwagon, 
Charles M. Hyatt and Charles C. McCormick, representing 
the Town Council ; Edmund Dunn and William H. Hugus, 
permanent members of the Board. 

When the Board was making contracts and purchasing 
additional grounds, it became evident to all that a charter 
would give additional privileges and also entitle the Board 
to a copy of all state publications free of charge. 

On December 14th, 1904, at a regular meeting of the 



460 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Board, Mr. E. C. Higbee was instructed to have the Board 
of Trustees incorporated. This was done in comphance 
with an "Act to provide for the incorporation and regula- 
tion of certain corporations," approved April 39th, 1874, 
and the supplements thereto, the undersigned, all of whom 
are citizens of Penns3dvania, have associated themselves 
together for the purpose hereinafter specified, and desire 
that they may be duly incorporated according to law. do 
hereby certify : 

First: The name of the corporation is Carnegie Free 
Library. 

Second: The said corporation is formed for the purpose 
of managing, conducting, and maintaining a free public library. 
Third: The business of the said corporation is to be trans- 
acted at the Borough of Connellsville, county of Fayette, and 
state of Pennsylvania. 

Fourth: The said corporation is to exist perpetually. 
Fifth: The names and residences of the subscribers are 
as follows: 

J. C. McClenathan, Connellsville, Pa. 

Henry P. Snyder, Connellsville, Pa. 

Linford F. Ruth, Connellsville, Pa. 

W. H. Hugus, Connellsville, Pa. 

Rockwell Marietta, Connellsville, Pa. 

Edmund Dunn, Connellsville, Pa. 

Sixth: The number of trustees of the said corporation is 
fixed at twelve, six of whom are called permanent trustees, and 
are, J. C. McClenathan, Henry P. Snyder, Linford F. Ruth, 
Rockwell Marietta, Edmund Dunn and W. H. Hugus, all of 
the Borough of Connellsville aforesaid, and who shall hold 
their position during life, or during their residence in the 
Borough of Connellsville, and in the event of a vacancy by 
reason of the death or resignation or otherwise, of any one or 
more of the six permanent trustees, the remaining permanent 
trustees shall choose a successor or successors to fill such vacan- 
cies, and the remaining six trustees shall be chosen, three by 
the school board and three by the Town Council, from their 
respective memberships, who shall hold office during their 
respective term as such officers, and in the event of the failure 
of the said school board or Town Council to elect the trustee 
or trustees to which they shall from time to time be entitled, 
the board of trustees can fill such vacancy or vacancies. The 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIOA'S 161 

trustees elected by the said school board are now \V. S. 
Schenck, and E. C. Higbee with one vacancy existing to be 
filled, and the trustees representing the Town Council are Clair 
Stillwagon, with two vacancies to be tilled. 

Seventh: The said corporation has no capital stock and 
no shares of stock. 

J. C. :\lcCLENATHAN, (Seal) 

EDMUND DUNN, (Seal) 

R. MARIETTA, (Seali 

L. E. RUTH, (Seal) 

W. H. HUGUS, (Seal) 

HEXRY P. SNYDER, (Seal) 

State of Pennsylvania, County of Fayette, ss : 

Before me, the subscriber, a Notary Public, in and for the 
aforesaid county of Fayette, personally appeared J. C. McClen- 
athan, L. F. Ruth, and Rockwell Marietta, three of the sub- 
scribers to the above and foregoing certificate of incorporation 
of the Carnegie Free Librarj^ who in due form of law acknowl- 
edged the same to be their act and deed. 

Witness my hand and ofiicial seal this 4th daj' of January. 
1904:. Byron Porter, N. P. 



In Re-Incorporation ( No. 361 ]\Iarch Term, 1904. 

of -{ In the Court of Common Pleas 

Carnegie Free Librar\' (. of Fayette County. 

DECREE. 

And now, June 21, 1904. certificate of incorporation having 
been presented to me, a law judge of Fayette county, accom- 
panied by proof of publication of the notice of such applica- 
tion, as required b}' the Act of Assemblj^ in such cases made 
and provided, and having perused and examined the said in- 
strument and having found the same to be in proper form and 
within the purposes named, in the first clause in the second 
section of the Act of the General Assembly of the Common- 
wealth of Pennsylvania, entitled "An Act to provide for the 
incorporation and regulation of certain corporations" approved 
April 29th, 1874, and the supplements thereto, and the same 
appearing lawful and not injurious to the community, it is or- 
dered and decreed that the said certificate of incorporation be 
and the same is hereby approved, and that, upon the recording 
of said certificate and this decree, the subscribers to the said 
certificate and their associates shall be a corporation for the 
purposes and upon the terms stated in said certificate. 

Attest: ROBERT E. UMBEL, 

PETER E. SHEPPARD, Law Judge., 

Proty. 



462 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CON NELESN ILLE 

On i\Iay 24th, 1!)<)4, the resignation of \\'ilham H. 
Hugus was received by the Board and accepted. ]\lr. Clair 
Stillwagon was elected to fill the vacancy as a member of 
the Board of Trustees. 

On July 1st, 1904, the Trustees met and proceeded to 
organize under the charter and elected the following 
officers: Dr. J. C. AlcClenathan, President; Rockwell 
Marietta, Vice-President ; H. P. Snyder, Secretary ; L. F. 
Ruth, Treasurer. The President, Secretary and Treasurer 
were appointed a committee to prepare by-laws. 

At a special meeting on September 22, 1904, called for 
the purpose, the by-laws were read, discussed and adopted. 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CARXEGIE FREE 
LIBRARY. 

Dr. J. C. AlcClenathan. President. 

Rockwell jVIarietta. X'ice-President. 

H. P. Snyder, Secretary, 

L. F. Ruth, Treasurer, 

Dr. H. V. Atkinson, 

Edmund Dunn, 

Robert Felty. 

Nicholas Hoye, 

Rockwell Marietta, 

Dr. J. C. McClenathan. 

L. F. Ruth, 

W. S. Schenck, 

H. P. Snyder, 

Clair Stillwagon, 

Robert Welsh. 

THE COTTAC.E STATE HOSIMTAL. 

A fact of supreme import to all is, that we are subject 
to disease and injury. To those of the medical ])r()fession, 
whose work is with the sick and suffering, the great boon 
of this wonderful decade, witli whicli no other can be com- 
pared, is "That tlie leaves of the tree of science have been 
for tlie healim'' of the nations." This is ilie Promethean 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS J-<)o 

gift of the past century to man, says I'rof. Osier. Many 
men, as well as the surgeons of the town, can well remember 
the harrowing sights that frequently met their gaze at the 
railroad depots when the mangled mine and railroad em- 
ployes were unloaded, with no place to care for them, but 
Pittsburgh hospitals, over fifty miles away. Often the long 
ride and loss of time was more than poor nature could 
endure. 

These sights were so often repeated that the attention 
of our lawmakers was attracted to this region and after 
repeated efforts made to the State Legislature, a suitable 
law was passed. 

The first act, donating $12,500 to the town, if a like 
amount be furnished by the citizens, after a stormy life 
of a few months, which added no lustre to the names 
immediatel)- connected with it, passed from the statute 
books. 

But those whose business it is to save human life and 
to alleviate suft'ering, not daunted by their first failure, took 
new courage and soon had another act passed by the Leg- 
islature, incorporating our Cottage State Hospital. 

It is one of four hospitals erected by an Act of the 
General Assembly of the session of 188T and approved by 
Governor Beaver. June 14, 188T, entitled 

"An Act to provide for the selection of sites and the erec- 
ture of State Hospitals thereon for injured persons to be located 
within the bituminous coal regions of the Commonwealth, to 
be called the State Hospital for injured persons in the bitumi- 
nous and semi-bituminous coal regions of Pennsylvania, and 
for the management of the same and making appropriations 
therefor. 

Section I. Be it enacted, etc.. That the Governor of this Com- 
monwealth shall, as soon as practicable after the passage of 
this Act. appoint six Commissioners, one of the said Commis- 
sioners to l^e appointed from each of the six existing inspection 
districts of the bituminous and semi-bituminous coal regions of 
the State, whose dut}^ it shall be to select sites and erect hos- 
pitals thereon for injured persons to be located at some points 
within the bituminous and semi— bituminous coal regions of the 



4:64: CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CON NELLSXTELE 

State, comprising the counties of Allegheny, Bedford, Fayette, 
Greene, Somerset, Washington, Armstrong, Beaver, Indiana, 
Westmoreland, Cameron, Clarion, Crawford, Clearfield, Elk, 
Erie, Forrest, Jefiferson. Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Venango, 
Warren, Blair, Bradford, Cambria. Centre, Sullivan, Clinton, 
Huntingdon, Potter, Lycoming and Tioga, who shall serve 
without compensation, other than their necessary traveling ex- 
penses incurred while in discharge of the duties herein described 
and set forth. 

Sec. 2. Said Commissioners shall within four months after 
the date of their appointment, select tracts of land of suitable 
area and character for the purpose named in section first, within 
the said described region. 

Sec. 3. Said tracts of land, so selected, shall he approved 
by the Governor in writing and the deed for the same shall Ix' 
taken in the name of the Commonwealth, in fee for any land 
donated for the purpose aforesaid. 

Sec. 4. The said Commissioners shall adopt such ])lans 
for said hospitals, as shall involve expenditures, exclusive of 
the land, of not over sixty thousand, or twenty thousand dol- 
lars each, when completed: provided, that the plans of the 
buildings shall be approved by the Board of Public Charities: 
Provided further, that the land, before provided for. shall be 
donated. 

Sec. 5. The said Commissioners shall have power to fix 
the salary of the superintendents of constructidn, ;ind sucli 
other persons, as they may think necessary to employ in order 
to secure the proper and economical constructions of the build- 
ings: Provided that the total expenses of said buildings shall 
not exceed sixty thousand dollars. 

Sec. 6. To enable the Commissioners to make nccessar}- 
preparations for the erection and completion of the Iniildings 
herein provided for, the sum of thirty thousand dollars is hereby 
appropriated, annually, for the years A. D. 1SS7 and A. D. ISSS. 
to be drawn from tlic State treasury, as may be re(|uired in ihe 
erection of the buildings, lierein Itefore descrilied. on warr;int> 
signed Ijy the chairman of the Commission and countersigned 
by the president or general of tlie I'xi.ard of i'ubiic Ciiarilies. 

Sec. 7. Said Commissioners sli.iU jji-oceed to erect s;iid 
buildings and complete the same, at as early a period as i)ossihle 
compatible with the economical, substantial and skillful execu- 
tion of the work, and shall make report to the P.oard of I'ntilic 
Charities of the amount of money expended l)y tluni and of the 
progress made in the erection of tin- buildings. senii-,innuail> 
at least, and oftener, if so required by said board. 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS -1:65 

Sec. 8. The said Commissioners, on the completion of said 
hospitals, shall surrender their trusts to the Board of Managers, 
to consist of nine members for each hospital, to be appointed 
by the Governor from the counties named in the first section 
of this Act. Said managers or trustees shall be a body politic 
or corporate by the name and style of the trustees of the Cot- 
tage State Hospitals for injured persons of the bituminous and 
semi-bituminous coal regions of Pennsylvania, for which they 
are appointed. They shall serve without compensation, other 
than necessary traveling expenses incurred in the discharge of 
the duties pertaining to the above-named institutions, and such 
expenses shall be paid out of monies in the State treasury, not 
otherwise appropriated, and shall manage and direct the con- 
cerns of said institutions, and make all necessary by-laws and 
regulations not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of 
the Commonwealth. 

Sec. 9. That these hospitals shall be especially devoted to 
the reception, care and treatment of injured persons, and that, 
in the order of admission, this class shall have precedence over 
paying patients. 

Sec. 10. It shall be lawful for the trustees of said hospital 
to receive contributions or donations from any person, firm or 
corporation offering to contribute or donate any money or 
other valuable consideration, whether by will, deed, gift or other- 
wise, to aid in the support, maintenance and for improving the 
property of said hospital: Provided, that the proceeds of all 
contributions or donations received by the said trustees, under 
the provisions of this section, shall be especially appropriated 
for the purposes herein stated: Provided further, that an item- 
ized statement of the same, showing the whole amount of 
monej' received by the said trustees, under the provisions of this 
section, and the name or names of any persons, firm or corpora- 
tion contributing or donating the same, together with an item- 
ized statement of the expenditures of said money, shall be made 
quarterly, under oath, to the Auditor General, the same as 
statements for State appropriations are now required by law. 

Sec. 11. That the Governor, judges of the several courts 
of record of this Commonwealth, inspectors of mines for the 
region and members of Legislature, shall be ex-officio visitors 
of the institution. 

Approved: The 14th day of June, A. D. 1887." 

As directed by the above Act, the Governor appointed 
Henr}^ Warner of Allegheny County, J. M. Reid of Fayette 
County, John J. Spearman of Mercer Coimty. David Cam- 



466 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

eron of Tioga County, the Commissioners to select sites 
and erect thereon the hospitals. Henry Warner refused to 
serve and in his place S. H. French of Allegheny County 
was appointed. By this commission, Connellsville was 
selected as one of the locations for a hospital, the other 
hospitals were located at Mercer, Philipsburg and Uloss- 
burg. A committee of five was elected to select a site 
for said hospital in Connellsville, namely. Col. j. M. Reid, 
Capt. E. Dunn, Dr. J. C. McClenathan, Col. B. F. Boyts 
and J. D. Frisbee. This committee, after examining a 
number of sites, selected the present beautiful location. It 
is situated upon a two-acre tract, upon high ground, out 
of the din and noise of the business part of the city. From 
its broad porches a good view can be had of a large part 
of the town and surrounding country. This site was pur- 
chased by Colonel J. AL Reid and donated by him to the 
State. The plans and specifications for the building were 
prepared by James H. Windrim of Philadelphia and aj)- 
proved by the State Board of Charities. Bids were received 
for the erection of this building and the contract let to 
the firm of James Calhoun & Co., for the sum of $i;3,400. 
on July 20, 1889. Its erection was commenced on Sep- 
tember 9, 1889, and the building was com]:)lcted and taken 
ofif the hands of the contractors on May ."Jl. 1890. On 
October 9, 1890, the Governor, James A. Beaver, appointed 
the following persons trustees for the hosjiital : 
Col. J. AI. Reid, James Lochran, 

Chas. Davidson, James Magee, 

T. H. White, Peter Wise, 

Geo. W. Neff, Capt. J. S. Scht.oninaker. 

D. S. Atkinson. 

On October 17th, the Trustees met in C. innollsville and 
organized by electing J. M. Reid. President; f. II. White. 
Secretary; and Charles Davidson, Treasurer. 'I'his Txiard 
of IVustees has bcLMi cliangod at xarious times by resigna- 
tions and deaths. Anions tlinse who haw ser\ed (in this 



468 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Board are Dr. J. J. Singer of Connellsville. James Carrigan 
of Scotdale, H. C. Huston of Connellsville. 

The Board is at present composed of the following 
persons: Col. J. AI. Reid, President; Dr. T. H. White. 
Secretary; Charles Davidson, Treasurer; H. S. Spear, Dr. 
J. B. Ewing, Dr. G. W. Neff. D. S. Atkinson, Dr. H. J'. 
Atkinson, H. P. Snyder. 

At a meeting of the Trustees, held January 6, 1891, 
a general plan of managing the Hospital was adopted and 
by-laws for its regulation read and approved. The by-laws, 
after stating the time of the meeting as the second Monday 
in each month at 11 o'clock A. M. and recounting the 
duties of the officers of the Board, state that five members 
shall constitute a quorum for business except for the election 
of officers and surgeons and for the discharge of an officer 
or surgeon, for which purpose "the consent of a majority 
of all the members of the Board shall be necessary." It 
provides for an executive committee of five persons, who 
"shall have the management of the affairs of the Hospital, 
shall require from the Superintendent as often as they see 
fit full information of the condition of the house and its 
inmates, shall have power to make regulations for the 
internal management of the institution and, under the Board 
of Trustees, shall prescribe the duties of the Superintend- 
ent." They shall appoint two of the members a \'isiting 
Committee, the admission of patients shall be under the 
control of the Visiting Committee, but no person, except 
in cases of emergency, shall be committed without an exam- 
ination by one of the surgeons of the stafif. The Executive 
Committee shall nominate to the r)oard suitable persons 
to fill vacancies that may occur on the Surgical Staff. They 
shall superintend repairs and improvements ordered 1)\ the 
Board. "The Hospital Staff' shall consist of a sufficient 
number of 'Regular Surgeons' to serve in pairs for three 
months, and a number of consulting surgeons from the 
District." The entire control of patients, as to their regiiiien 
and treatment, sliall be unck'r the Mos]iilal StalT. "Na^an- 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 4G9 

cies in the Hospital Staff may be filled at any regular meet- 
ing" of the Board, by the election of persons nominated 
by the Executive Committee of the Board." The Hospital 
Staff ma_y adopt rules and regulations in harmony with the 
By-Laws and the Act of Assembly governing the Board 
of Trustees for their own government. "The Superintend- 
ent shall be a female trained nurse, who shall, in addition to 
her duties as nurse shall act as Housekeeper and be directly 
responsible to the Board for the expense account of the 
Hospital." In addition to the Superintendent, two female 
trained nurses are employed, two pupil nurses and two male 
orderlies and the usual household help. 

The formal opening exercises of the Hospital were 
held in the Opera House, January 2Tth. 1891, followed by 
a reception in the evening at the Hospital. The Hospital 
was opened for the reception of patients February 1st, 1891. 
The Board of Trustees selected the following surgeons to 
take charge of the Hospital for the first year : Drs. Ellis 
Philips, J. D. Jackson, J. C. JNIcClenathan, R. Torrence, T. 
H. White, U. B. Shupe, Geo. U. Gallagher. L. P. AlcCor- 
mick. From this number Philips, Jackson and Torrence 
have resigned and their places have been filled by Drs. H. 
F. Atkinson, J. H. Coll, R. S. AIcKee. (T. B. Echard and 
E. B. Edie have been added to the staff" as assistants.) 
The surgeons, when they entered upon their duties, which 
were often onerous and required much time, did so without 
compensation. Few and far between have been the thanks 
that an}^ of the surgeons have received for their work in 
this institution, until recently when the small amount of 
$50.00 per month has been given to each surgeon when on 
duty. From $15,000.00 to $20,000.00 worth of surgical 
work annually has been done by the surgical staff" in this 
Hospital. When the Hospital was opened Miss A. R. Gad- 
dis was elected Superintendent. She entered upon her 
duties February 1st, 1891, but owing to some disagreement 
with the Board of Trustees, resigned November 15th ,1891. 
The Superintendents who have held the position are as 
f(ll-w-: 



470 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF C0NNELLS\'1LLE 

Aliss A. R. Gacklis, from February Ist, 1S!)1. to No- 
vember 15th, 1891. 

Miss A. R. Furgeson, from November 15th, 1891, to 
Jmie nth, 1896. 

Miss A. M. Hooper, from June 11th, 189(3, to Sep- 
tember 1st, 1897. 

Miss E. V. Fast, from September 1st, 1897, to Sep- 
tember 1st, 1899. 

]\Iiss May McCkire, from September 1st, 1899, to Sep- 
tember 1st, 1902. 

Miss Florence Haldeman, from September 1st, 1902, 
to September 21st, 1905. 

Miss Mable Craft, from September 21st, 1905, to date. 

The number of patients that have been so seriously in- 
jured that they have been placed in beds in the wards are 
as follows per year. This does not include those cared for 
by the Hospital as visiting or out-door patients, that have 
been able to go to their homes after dressings. 

During the year : 
Year. Number of Patients. Year. Number of Patients. 



1891 


91 


1899 


300 


1892 


113 


1900 


367 


1893 


13-1 


1901 


390 


189i 


181 


1902 - 


428 


1895 


281 


1903 


521 


1896 


205 


1904 


301 


1897 


236 


"1905 


448 


1898 


281 


1906 


408 



From 75 to 207 out-door patients have been treated 
per year in addition to the above list. There have been 
admitted to the Hospital for treatment since its o])cning. 
4,819 patients. A very large jiroportion of tlic cases arc 
seriously injured, or for some reason are not desirable cases 
for the home surgeon to treat. Nearly all tlie deaths occin 
within a few hours after they arc admitted, and result from 
the shock or the severe nature of their injuries. The 
number of capital operations performed range from 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 471 



23 in the first year to 100 the past years. These operations 
consist chiefly of amputations, abdominal sections, treph- 
ining of the skull, etc. The expense per clay for the treat- 
ment has varied with the change in the cost of living from 
$0.80 to $1.20. 

The number of beds in the Hospital is 38 ; frequently 
more than this number of patients are in the Hospital, then 
cots have to be used. The appropriation by the State for 
maintenance for the first four years was $5,000 per year ; 
as the number of patients increased, the cost increased until 
a large deficit existed, then the appropriations were in- 
creased to $7,500 per year. During the last few years the 
appropriations have been increased to $10,000 per year. 

A large number of patients who have been injured, 
when on duty, that are employed by the different coal and 
coke companies, and the railroads, now pay $3.50 per week 
to the hospital for their treatment; also some private cases 
are admitted for operations, by the members of the Staff 
of Surgeons, who pay $7.00 per week for the nursing and 
board, so that under the present conditions the Hospital 
does not need to be worried by a debt or deficit. 

STATE ARMORY. 

This institution had its origin in an Act of Assembly 
approved May 11, 1905, as follows : 

An Act for the appointment and maintenance of a Board, 
to be known as the Armory Board of the State of Penn- 
sylvania, and for the payment of its expenses, and for 
providing, managing and caring for armories for the 
use of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, through- 
out the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and making 
an appropriation for the same ; authorizing the State 
Armory Board to receive from counties, cities, munici- 
palities and other sources, donations or contributions 
for the purpose of this Act. 

Section ]. Be it enacted, etc., that there shall be ap- 
pointed within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, an 



472 CENTliNNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Armory Board, to consist of the Ciovernor, the Adjutant 
General, and five persons to be appointed by the Governor, 
of whom three shall be officers of the National Guard, whose 
duty it shall be to provide, manage and care for armories 
for the use of the National Guard of Pennsylvania. 

Sec. 2. That the Armory Board, as appointed, is here- 
by empowered and directed to erect or provide, anywhere 
within the limits of this Commonwealth, upon such terms 
and conditions as shall be decided upon by said Armory 
Board as most advantageous to the Commonwealth, 
armories for the use of the National Guard of Pennsyl- 
vania, which armories shall be used for drill, meeting and 
rendezvous purposes by the organization of the National 
Guard occupying same, and in wdiich shall be stored and 
safely kept all property of the United States or of the 
Commonwealth, issued to such organization for military 
purposes. 

Sec. 3. The members of said Armory Board shall per- 
form the duties imposed upon them by the provision of this 
act without any compensation for their services ; but their 
actual necessar}' expenses, incident to the location and es- 
tablishment of such armories, shall be borne by the Com- 
monwealth of Pennsylvania, and payable from the appro- 
priation made for armory purposes. 

Sec. -1. That the said Armory Board shall have full 
authority to purchase ground in the various localities, 
throughout the Commonwealth, where it shall be deemed 
necessary to provide armories ; said ground, in each instance. 
to be purchased in the name and iov the use of the Com- 
monwealth of Pennsylvania; and, upon the ground so ])ur- 
chased, the Armory Board is authorized and directed to 
erect, for the use of such company, battery, trooji, battalion, 
or regimental organization, an armory to be used for meet- 
ing, rendezvous and drill i)ur])oscs. and in which sliall be 
stored the ordnance stores, quartermaster stores, and other 
property issued to the organization occupxing said armorv. 
When such annor\- or armories are erected or nroNidcil. ihr 



4:74: CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CON N EEF.SNILLE 

said Armory Board shall have charge thereof and arrange 
for its occupancy and use under the direction and responsi- 
bility of the senior officer in command of such company, 
battery, troop, battalion, or regimental organization. 

Sec. 5. That the x-Vrmory Board, hereby appointed, 
shall also constitute a board for the general management 
and care of said armories when established, and shall have 
the power to adopt and prescribe rules and regulations for 
their management and government, and formulate such rules 
for the guidance of the organization occupying them as 
may be necessary and desirable. 

Sec. 6. The term of each appointee shall be for five 
years from the date of. his appointment. In case of vacancy 
in the Armory Board, by death or otherwise, the Governor 
shall have power to fill the vacancy. 

Sec. 7. That such Armory Board shall have power 
to receive from counties, cities, municipalities, or other 
sources, donations of land or contributions of money to 
aid in providing or erecting armories throughout the Com- 
monwealth for the use of the National Guard of Pennsyl- 
vania, and which shall be held as other property for the 
use of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; and such coun- 
ties, cities or other municipalities are hereby authorized to 
make such contributions for the purpose of this act. 

Sec. 8. The maximum amount to be expended for a 
company of infantry shall be twenty thousand dollars ; for 
a battery of artillery or a troop of cavalry, thirty thousand 
dollars ; which shall include the purchase of the necessary 
ground, where such ground is not donated, and which shall 
be exclusive of any gift or donation made to or for the bene- 
fit of any particular armory. 

Sec. 9. That when the aforesaid Armory I'uard sliall 
receive from the Governor information (tt the (lisl)andment 
of the organization of the National Guard of IVMinsylvania. 
occupying and using an armory ])ro\i(k'(l 1)\ the Coiiinion- 
wealth under the direction of the .\niior\ Hoard, it shall 
be the duty of said Armory Board to take charge of such 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 475 

armory; and they are hereby authorized and directed to 
make sale of such armory, at pubHc or private sale, after 
due publication, for the highest price to be obtained for the 
same, and return the proceeds thereof into the State- 
Treasury. 

Sec. 10. The Board shall make a report, annually ,- 
of the proceedings incident to the location and management 
of such armories, respectively ; also a detailed account of 
disbursements, which shall be filed in the office of the Audi- 
tor General, and a copy furnished the Adjutant General's 
Department. 

Sec. 11. That, for the purpose of carrying- into effect 
the provisions of the aforesaid act, the sum of two hundred 
and fiftv thousand ($250,000) dollars is hereby specifically 
appropriated, out of any monies in the Treasur}^ not other- 
wise appropriated, which shall be paid by the State Treas- 
urer upon the warrant of the Auditor General, upon prop- 
erly authorized voucher of the aforesaid Board. 

Approved — the 11th day of May, A. D., 1905. 

SAMUEL W. PENNYPACKER. ' 

By the authority of this act the members of the Armor}^ 
Board were appointed on September 20, 1905. The present 
board consists of the following persons, viz. : 

Hon. Edwin S. Stuart, Governor of Pennsylvania. 

Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Stewart. Adjutant General Penn- 
sylvania. 

Col. Albert J. Logan, Commissary General N. G. P. 

Brig. Gen. C. B. Daugherty. Third Brigade N. G. P. 

Col. William G. Price, Jr., Third Regiment Infantry 
N. G. P. 

Col. Louis A. Watres. 

Col. Willis J._ Hulings, Sixteenth Regiment Infantr}^- 
N. G. P. 

This board organized by electing the Governor of the 
State, President ; General Stewart, Vice President, ancL 
Benjamin W. Demming, Secretary. 



4T6 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



The board decided that they would divide the a])pr(>- 
priation of $250,000 among the three brigades — or an allot- 
ment of $80,000 to each brigade — leaving a l)alance of 
$10,000 for general expenses. 

The first armory located was at Pittston. Pa., for the 
use of Companies C and H. 9th Regiment Infantry, and this 
allotment was $40,000. 

The armory at Mount Pleasant, for the use of Com- 
pany E, 10th Regiment Infantry, was completed and dedi- 
cated on November 10th, 1906. It is beautifully located in 
Frick Park, and the site was donated by the Borough of Alt. 
Pleasant. 

The committee representing the Second Brigade, con- 
sisting of Colonels A. J. Logan, of Pittsburg, and W. J. 
Hulings, of Oil City, reported on January lOth, 19()t), in 
favor of the erection of an armory at Connellsville, Pa., for 
'the use of Company D, 10th Regiment Infantr_\-. IMans 
and specifications were subsequently adopted, drawn by 
W. G. Wilkins Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., and were advertised, 
and bids received, and opened July 12th, 190(), but no award 
was made, owing to the fact that all the bids exceeded the 
amount of funds available. 

The committee secured revised plans and specifications 
froni the same firm of architects, which were presented at 
the meeting of the Board held x\pril 30, 1907, and approved. 

An option on a definite site for the Connellsville armory 
has been obtained and approved, on the corner of Etna 
street and Washington avenue. 

The revised plans and specifications are superior in 
every respect to those first presented. 

The citizens of Connellsville, led by Col. J. ]M. Reid. 
Captain J. H. Sim])son, and Rockwell ^Marietta, succeeded 
in raising the neat sum of $10,000 to be added to the State 
a];)])r()priation, making a total of $;)0,0()0 for the Armory. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

MANUFACTURES. 

From its birth as a frontier settlement, Connellsville 
might properly be classed as a manufacturing town. It 
was here that emigrants and travelers to the West, coming 
over the mountains from Bedford via Turkeyfoot, reached 
the first boatable point on the Youghiogheny river. Travel 
was made easier and expedited somewhat by taking boat 
at Connellsville and thus by water reaching the prairies of 
the middle west and the rich settlements of Kentucky. 

Boats had to be built for the purpose and it was not 
long until one of the far-seeing settlers established himself 
in the boat building business and had them ready for the 
prospective users. The earlier pioneers arriving with their 
families camped on the river bank and built their own boats 
— which suggested the setting aside of the ground now occu- 
pied bv the City Hall — for years called "the bottom" or 
public square — by Zachariah Connell. for the convenience 
of travelers and their families and for the purpose of land- 
ing timber, stone and other building materials and for 
lading vessels, etc., etc. 

Fayette county at the time of the founding of Con- 
nellsville had more good timber than there is now, prob- 
ablv, in the whole state. Wm. AlcCormick had a sawmill 
here prior to 1T94 — and there are reasons to believe as 
earlv as 1789 — much of the lumber was furnished by him 
to the community. 

BOAT BUILDING. 

Boat building might be said to have been the first nota- 
ble industry of the town, commenced, as already stated. 
by the westward bound emigrants and traders and soon 

477 



4TS CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELI.SX ILLE 

prosecuted as a regular busiuess b\' enterprisiug" residents 
whom we are informed found it very profitable. The cus- 
tom was to build flat bottom boats !'?(» to l-jft feet long. 
18 to 23 feet wide and 6 to 10 feet deep. The\- were built 
bottom up — the frames pinned together with wooden pins, 
"bottoms put on and caulked and then turned by the use 
of long levers and three or four sampsons ( heav\- ])ieces 
about twenty feet long with holes bored in them four inches 
apart alternating from side to side). A man placed at each 
Sampson would stick pins in the holes to sustain the weight 
of the boat as it was raised by the levers. When near the 
perpendicular several men with pike-poles properly dis- 
tributed along" the boat's length would, at a given signal, 
give it the necessary impetus and over it would go. 

The "gunnels" were prepared by squaring the fallen 
tree with the broad-axe, then hauled to the river bank and 
placed near one end over a pit eight or nine feet deep. 
With a whip-saw — one man standing above on the hewed 
tree and another beneath in the pit — the stick was sawed 
through its entire length in halves, moving the timl)er 
forward over the pit as the work progressed. 

The final caulking .was then done, two long skids or 
logs extended to the water's edge and on these the boat 
was launched into the river and sided up. The boat, moved 
with two sweeps or oars, one forward and one aft. was 
ready for its cargo of lumber, produce or pig-iron. 

The usual proceeding was to float down the river until 
a purchaser was found for both boat and cargo, the "crew" 
returning overland, unless destined for the West. Some- 
times a keel boat was pushed by means of pike-poles from 
Pittsburgh up the river, laden with merchandise, but the 
condition of the water had to be peculiar]}- favorable for 
such trips. 

The business was continued for tift\ \ears or more 
c|uite successfull}' and received a new imi)elus with the 
first establishment of the coke industry inan\ years later, 
imtil the railroad made its rates such that it no lonocr 



MANUFACTURES 479 



paid to lose the time (by reason of waiting" for a proper 
stage) or take the risk — for not all the cargoes were safely 
piloted through. 

The men most generally engaged in the business were 
Col. Wm. L. Miller, Joseph jMiller, his brother, John Win- 
ing (married to Miller's step-sister), Uriah Springer, Jr., 
and his brother Crawford, Christopher Taylor, the Richeys, 
Whites and some others. 

Col. Miller's boat-yard was on Water street below 
the Youghiogheny bridge. He also had one on the New 
Haven side about where the Southwest Pennsylvania Rail- 
road bridge is now. 

IRON INDUSTRY. 

One need begets another — the necessities of the trav- 
elers were soon catered to by a "store" followed by shoe- 
makers, weavers, tailors, etc., — these to be properly housed 
called for a number of carpenters, masons and other me- 
chanics. P'or while the pioneer at the outset did all of these 
things for himself, as soon as he became engaged in some 
fixed avocation he was too busy to do it properly and thus 
began a division of labor furnishing permanent employ- 
ment for many others. Men being here it was not long until 
the enterprising found other uses for them — the iron ore 
ot our hills and the limestone and forests adjacent sug- 
gested the iron furnace and soon the mountains roundabout 
had a number of such industries. 

The "smudge" by day and a red glow b}' night located 
numberless charcoal kilns the predecessors of the coke 
ovens of today — the value of coking coal was not appre- 
ciated in America at this time, and the proximity of the 
forests made charcoal the natural fuel for smelting the 
iron ore with which the mountains abounded. 

IRON FURNACES. 

All of the iron furnaces within a radius of ten miles 
might properly be said to have been Connellsville indus- 



480 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



tries — for it was to Connellsvilk- their output was Ijrouj^iit 
for shipment down the river and here suppHes were pur- 
chased and men secured. In fact it was the metro]:)olis of 
the industry in Fayette county. Of all of the furnaces, 
the only one in Connellsville proper, as it stands today, 
was Etna Furnace, sometimes called ]\Iount Etna Furnace, 
built in 1815, by John Gibson, who came here from Ches- 
ter county, about l?9o. It stood in the hollow crossed 
by South Pittsburgh street just beyond Patterson avenue, 
and at the southern end of Etna street as now opened. The 
daily output was about 15 tons. 

The ore was obtained from the mountain-sides nearby 
— some being brought from dififerent points and mixed to 
get the proper quality of pig iron. The furnace was sur- 
rounded by many little log and frame cabins for housing 
the workmen. The community consisted of several hun- 
dred. 

At first the workmen were not charged any rent. In 
a house centrally located resided one known as the "Doc- 
tor's Man," whose business it was to go for the doctor 
if any one was sick. Each family kept a tin horn and if 
any one got sick at night a blast thereon brought the "Doc- 
tor's Man," who, when he came made a note of every symp- 
tom in order to give the doctor an idea of what medicines 
to take with him. 

The furnace was operated for thirty years or more, ami 
practically the same workmen were employed with few 
changes, for most of the time, until it became necessary to 
charge a small rental for houses, with five daxs' notice to 
vacate, which brought a change in the i)ersonnel i^i the 
workers. 

F.VYETTE FL'RXACiv 

In tlie mountains east of Connellsville was anotliev fur- 
nace built in IS';?? by Dr. Joseph Rogers, el al.. and oper- 
ated under the hrm name of Joseph tS; ( ieorge I'. Kogers 
& Co., until is;il. wlien tlie interests of MesM-<. I'reenian. 



MANUFACTURES 481 



Aliller and Linton were purchased by Dr. Joseph Rogers, 
the firm changed to Joseph and George P. Rogers. Under 
this title it was continued three years when Joseph Rogers 
acquired full ownership and carried on the business until 
1838. 

A description of this plant, which can be given accur- 
ately from papers and drawings still in existence and in 
possession of the Rogers family, might serve to give an 
idea as to all the others for they were conducted in much 
the same manner. 

The furnace stack was thirty-five feet square at the 
base and fifty feet high with tw^o openings, one for drawing 
off the molten metal and the other for the blast. The blow- 
ing of the furnace was done by means of two large tubes 
twelve feet in diameter and eight feet high with tops fit 
like a sausage stuiTer, one going down as the other came 
up, driven by a thirty-foot overshot water wheel. The 
water was brought from three dams nearb}'. mostlv in 
troughs dug from large logs. The furnace was charged or 
fed by means of a bridge from a high bank just back of 
the furnace, to the top of the stack. 

The ore was mined and the charcoal burned in the im- 
mediate vicnity of the furnace, and required quite a number 
of miners, colliers, teamsterS; etc., etc. The workmen were 
housed in 35 or 40 cabins built of round logs and, wath 
but one or two exceptions, of one room each. A good por- 
tion of one end of this room was taken up by a large stone 
chimney with a huge fire place. The fire place was fitted 
with a log-pole and chain from which hung the famous 
"dinner pot."' 

The company operated in connection with the furnace 
a store and warehouse. 

The pig-metal was hauled by six horse "bell-teams" 
over the ridge to Connellsville and unloaded on the banks 
of the river for shipment by flat-boats to Pittsburgh and 
other points. 

In connection with Etna Furnace, John Gibson owned 



48'^ CKNTKNNIAL HISTORY OF CON NELLSVILLE 

and operated on the river bank, a grist-niill, saw-mill, roll- 
ing" and slitting'-mill and nail shop, having also a tilt hanimci. 

Just below Connellsville, in fact, at its northern ex- 
tremity on the river, w^as located the "Stone Mill," built 
in 1800 by John Gibson and operated for some years as 
a rolling mill. It was run by water power from ^Mount's 
creek. 

At the lower end of Davidson's Island the same John 
Gibson built and operated the "Yough Forge" early in 
1800. After his death it was operated until IH'iij by his 
sons, Thomas, Joseph, Joshua & James Gibson. 

Breakneck or Finley Furnace, the remains of which 
stand in the reservoir of the Connellsville Water Company 
at Breakneck, was built in 1818 by James Rogers, James 
Paul and a man named Miller. It was run for 20 years 
and abandoned in 1838. It had a daily output of about 
12 tons. 

Union Furnace was built by Col. Isaac Meason, and 
put in blast March, 1?91. Union Furnace was succeeded 
in 1793 by another and larger furnace of the same name, 
built near the same site by Colonel Meason and Moses 
Dillon. It was situated on Dunbar creek, about one mile 
from the present town of Dunbar. The daily output was 
from 3 to 6 tons, and when last named tonnage was made, 
the employees received extra pay. This furnace was suc- 
cessfully operated for a number of years. 

The Youghiogheny Iron & Coal Com])anv was incor- 
porated September 23, 18(U, and succeeded the Union I"\ir- 
nace. The furnace was a stone stack and the native ores 
were used exclusively. The employees numbered about l-~)0 
men, which included ore miners, furnace men and all others 
connected with the company. The daily output was about 
15 tons. 

The Dunbar Iron Company succeeded the ^'ough- 
iogheny Iron & Coal Compan\- in 18^0. Tlirx eniploxed 
about 2<HI men, in and arouud tlu' furnace and ore mines. 
The daily out]Mit averaged oO tons. 



MANUFACTURES 483 



The Dunbar Furnace Company succeeded the Dunbar 
Iron Company, and was incorporated June 21st, 1876, with 
a capital of $300,000.00. which has since been increased to 
$1,000,000.00. It is an up-to-date plant, having all the 
modern improvements for making pig iron. Its two fur- 
nace stacks are each SO feet high and 18 feet bosh. It has 
a battery of eight high-pressure boilers, consisting of two 
400 H. P. and six 300 H. P. It has five blast engines, 
consisting of two Southwark Verticals, one Alackintosh, one 
Scranton and one Weimer. The charging system used is 
what is known as the skip hoist, in connection with subway, 
all operated by electricity. 

The coke used is made in ovens of Semet-Solvay Com- 
pany, which is the by-product system, and the coke is found 
to work as well as that made in the bee hive ovens. 

The company makes foundry, mill and chill basic iron, 
the last named being cast in a pig iron' machine, and 
chilled with water. This iron is used in the steel mills of 
Pittsburgh and vicinity, and is in great demand. The 
employees number over 700 which includes furnace men, 
miners, railroaders and all others connected with the com- 
pany. The daily output has increased from 61 tons in 1876 
to 300 tons per day in 1906. 

The company is owned by Eastern capitalists, and its 
general managers and sales agents are Messrs. L. & R. 
Wister & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. The officers of the company 
are : W. C. Harris, President, Philadelphia, Pa. ; Wm. M. 
Ketzmiller, Secretary, Philadelphia, Pa. ; Reginald Palmer, 
Treasurer, Dunbar, Pa. ; H. Cook, Auditor, Connellsville, 
Pa. 

NAIL MAKERS. 

Norton & Stewart (L. L. Norton, his brother Philo 
Norton and John B. Stewart) manufactured the Douglass 
spike machine at the factory formerly operated as a carding 
machine factory. This was the first spike machine made 
in Pennsylvania. 



48-L CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

\\'lieii Philo Xorton died, L. L. Norton sold out to 
Stewart, who shortly thereafter died and his widow suld 
the property, to settle the estate. 

James and Campbell Johnston came to Connells\-illc 
y.bout 1818 and started two nail-shops, one at Meadow lane 
and Spring street (about where the Frisbee Hardware Com- 
pany warehouse stands today) and the other on the pri- 
vate alley between the Wallace Furniture Company's and 
Goldsmith Brothers' stores. 

They continued in business until l8■^3. The process 
was somewhat tedious and very simple as compared with 
present day methods. The iron was cut the proper lengths 
— one end heated to a cherry red, stuck in a vice, hot end 
up, and struck a sharp blow with a hammer^ — making the 
head. The vice was then loosened and the nail was made. 
Wm. Waugh was the master workman and several boys 
were employed to loosen and tighten the vice, count and 
put the nails in kegs or boxes. 

About 1825 or a little earlier, Herman ( iel)hart and 
Asa Smith had a nail factory where the !>. & ( ). R. R. 
depot now stands. They were succeeded in the business 
by Harvey and Silas White, who discontinued it at that 
stand about 1830. 

The blast for the furnace at this point was operated 
by a "tramp wheel," the "power" being a blind horse. 

The Whites later moved to the "Cjil)Son Mill" where 
they carried on this and other lines for some time. 

CJn the New Haven side of the river, one of the early 
enterprises was a rolling mill. It was located on the river 
bank near where the present grist-mill stands. The leading 
spirit in this was Thomas Gregg, a man of manv enter- 
prises and an inventive genius of note. ( iregg was an 
inventor and not a business man. Vhv industrx was ni>t 
therefore successtul from a financial slandjioint. but il still 
stood in ISlC) as a monument Id his cndcaxur. ;ind was 
the means of gix-im^' tlie hot-blast stove, in common use b\- 
iron furnaces, to that trade. 



MANUFACTURES 485 



Another industry which tlirived about this time was a 
tack factory — which was run by the White family in a 
small frame building- on Front street, a little south of the 
rolling mill. 

The present dam on the New Haven side was built in 
1823 by Col. VVm. L. jNIiller, who operated a grist mill, 
also a saw-mill and a small establishment for carding' and 
preparing" wool for the country looms. All of which were 
burned together with Foster's woolen factory about 1835. 

Colonel ]\Iiller also built a paper mill just below Thomas 
Foster's woolen mill. He employed twenty-five hands and 
made writing paper by the exceedingly tedious process of 
moulding one sheet at a time. This mill was built about 
1829, and the foundations and a part of the walls were still 
standing" in 1883. 

The present grist mill operated by Kell Long was liuilt 
in 1848. It has been remodeled several times since, how- 
ever. 

On Second street there was until recentl\' an old mill, 
formerly operated by steam, built in 1838. but operated only 
ten years. It was know'n for many years as the home of 
a quaint character by the name of Thomas Fors^the. who 
utilized the mill for the purpose of drying ginseng in which 
he was a large dealer. He also taught bookkeeping and 
many of the present generation owe their knowledge of the 
art to "Tommy" Forsythe. Many stories are told of the 
odd contrivances invented b}* him for the purpose of pre- 
paring ginseng for the market. The establishment could 
hardly be called a factory as he employed only two or 
three besides himself even at the busiest periods, but so 
many inventions came from there, 'all manner and kinds 
and for the most varied purposes, that it can hardly be 
passed without mention, at least. 

The most memorable of these was a fire escape, a model 
of which was always at hand near his bed in the third 
story of the mill. In giving a practical demonstration of its 
use he almost hung himself on one occasion — the audience 
waverins" between amusement and alarni. 



486 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELL.S\II-EE 

Thomas Foster erected his factory about 18"^;5-l8"i4, 
a Httle below Miller's mill, and manufactured cassinettcs, 
jeans and cloths, employing thirty people most of the time. 
William Yates was a weaver there. After the hre, Foster 
replaced his burned woolen factory with a nuich larger 
one, equipped it with machinerw and started what was 
then considered a business enterprise of the first im]:)ort- 
ance. He employed about one hundred work ])eople and 
_^manufactured blankets, woolen cloths, etc.. For a time 
he did a large and apparently successful business — but this 
success was only temporary, for in the end financial dis- 
tress forced him to retire. A Mr. Blucher succeeded him 
and also failed, as did likewise a ^Ir. Hill who continued 
the business after J\Ir. Blucher's failure. The property 
came into the hands of ( )rth Brothers, who. during the war. 
engaged in the manufacture of armv cloths, and the busi- 
ness was pushed night and day with a force of one hun- 
dred and fifty hands. The factory was enlarged, and the 
west side of the river was full of life and enterprise. 

Like those who had preceded them, however, they were 
doomed to disaster. The close of the war found them 
with an enormous stock of manufactured goods on hand, 
and in the depression that followed, with shrinkage in 
prices natural to such times, they went down. 

The property lay idle until A])ril. ISll, wlien J. \'. 
Smith and Company converted it into a manufactory for 
light locomotives, called the 

NATIONAL LOC(.).AI()Tl\'E WORKS. 

For a time this business prosjiered and gave employ- 
ment to upwards of one hundred men. The establishment 
was sold to Bailey & Dawson and by them to William II. 
Bailey. The . enterprise appeared to thrive — employment 
was given to two hundred men and the slio]) was kept 
running night and da\-. Confidence was alniosl unliniiled. 
prosperity was evidenced on ever\- hand and the acti\it}- 
in general business ran high. .Suddenl\ ii (le\ eloped iliat 



MANUFACTURES 487 



the enterprise bordered on failure — when the crash came 
it developed that the loss entailed was about $100,000.00. 

New Haven especially had leaned upon this industry 
and in consequence was well nigh paralyzed, for a time, 
by the failure. Thousands of dollars were owed to store 
keepers, employees, mechanics and others — the calamity was 
wide-spread and the community was lon^' in recovering 
from its dire effects. 

The buildings were razed some years ago, the old 
office only remaining, at the left as you approach the bridge, 
and occupied as a fruit and candy store. The works occu- 
pied a strip of ground fifty by two hundred and forty feet — 
fronting on Ferrv or ]\Iain street and extending down the 
river to Trader's alley. 

In the tower of the old building was a bell which 
served as a curfew for the children of the TO"s. It was 
not so called, but at nine o'clock every night the factory 
bell rang, the stores closed, lights went out, and most of 
the vounger generation made for home, as it was a com- 
mon admonition on the part of parents. "You must not stay 
later than the ringing of the factory bell." 

FOUNDRIES. 

Gebhart, Norton and Kurtz bought the old Methodist 
Episcopal Church, wdiich stood where the Roman Catholic 
Parochial School is now located, in 183(i, and erected a 
"cupola" as it was then called, or foundry. They first 
intended to build on \\'itter avenue on the lot now occu- 
pied by the residence of Captain J. ^I. DuShane : this 
ground and forty acres adjoining, now known as John- 
ston's Addition to Connellsville, was covered with timber 
which was cleared at the point intended for the foundry 
and a well sunk. The church property being offered for 
' sale, their plans were changed and it was purchased in- 
stead. They manufactured plows and all kinds of small 
castings and peddled them over the country in exchange 
for produce. Money was scarce and the products of ex- 



488 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSNILEE 



change were used in paying" the labor. Shortly after the 
operation of the plant was begun, Norton sold out to Sam- 
uel Freeman, and the firm name was changed to Gebhart, 
Freeman and Kurtz. 

After many years they sold out to Torrence, Alunson 
& Company, who were succeeded by White and Mcliride 
and they in turn by Armstrong and Keepers. 

At one time Joseph Trump and James ^Nlcliride oper- 
ated a foundry on the lot now occupied b}' Alace & Com- 
pany's store — the business was not long continued, how- 
ever. 

In 1831, L. L. Norton put a blast cupola in the build- 
ing on McCoy's Run where he had previously operated a 
carding, spinning and fulling mill and went into the foun- 
dry business, giving especial attention to the luanufacture 
of fine stoves, tea-kettles, etc.. using coke, which he made 
on the ground, as fuel. The blast was operated fn^m an 
overshot water-wheel which got its power from the dam 
nearby. 

Philo Norton, still living, tells of working in this ( his 
father's) foundry as a young boy, his work being that of 
chipping and smoothing up the kettles and stcn-e castings 
and pounding up coke in a large kettle for the purpose of 
making blacking with which to put the finishing touches 
on the output of the foundry. 

BOYTS. PORTER & COMPANY 
YOUGH STEA^I PUMP WORKS. 

The first foundry established in Connells\illc was 
started in 1839 by Robert W. Francis and John and Jacob 
Anderson, and with several changes in the firm name has 
.continued uninterru])tedl\- to the present day. l\ol)cri \\ . 
Francis was actively associated in the business for almost 
half a century till his death in ls;s. The first business 
which was that of a foundry and ])low works, cousisled ot 
making plows, stoves and general castings. Tlioy iiNcd a 
common "air furnace" — burning'" raw coal. All n\ ilu' ■"niik' 



MANUFACTURES 489 



stones" used on the National Pike from Cumberland to 
Wheeling" were made b}' them. 

The original foundry was located on the site of the 
Baltimore & Ohio passenger depot — a little south of the 
present depot. The plow works was about where the 
present foundry of Boyts, Porter & Company is located. 

Francis & Anderson continued as a firm till LSiU, when 
James W. and Isaac Francis bought Anderson's interest, 
and the business was carried on without material change 
until 18GU, when a three-fourths interest was sold to Stauf- 
fer & Company. 

On March 1st. 18TU. R. W. Francis. Martin B. Stauf- 
fer, John, Henry and Samuel Porter and Thomas Tennant 
formed a partnership under the firm name of Staufter, Por- 
ter & Company to conduct a general foundr}' and plow man- 
ufactory. In 1873 they added a new branch for the pur- 
pose of making forgings and doing machine work under 
the name of Tennant, Clark and Company. ( the old name 
being retained for the foundry and plow works). 

M. B. Stauffer died in 18? G. and his interest in both 
firms named above was purchased by B. F. Boyts. and 
from April 1st of that year the business was conducted as 
Tennant. Porter. Boyts and Company. 

On February 2nd, 18'7T. the plant was destroyed by 
fire. In fifteen days temporary buildings were erected and 
the firm was prepared to fill all orders for castings, ma- 
chine and forge work. New permanent buildings were 
started immediately over the temporary structure, and the 
present brick building represented the complete plant. Some 
years later an additional building was erected on the north 
side of North alley. 

On June 8th. 1878, R. W. Francis died, and on the 
29th of the same month the firm of Tennant. Porter, Boyts 
and Company was dissolved, J. M. DuShane buying the 
Francis interest and J. M. Reid that of Thomas Tennant. 
The firm name was charged to the present style — Boyts. 
Porter & Company, and under the articles of partnership 




PLANT OF HOVTS I'OKTlCR *■ COMl'ANV 



MANUFACTURES 491 



was for the purpose of conducting a foundry, machine and 
forge works and to engage in the manufacture of steam 
pumping machinery. 

John Porter died March IGth, 1883 and Samuel Por- 
ter, December, 190(). 

It is beheved Boyts, Porter & Company make as great 
a variety of castings as any foundry in the state, and their 
machine shop and forge department are completely equip- 
ped to do machine, forge and sheet-iron work of every 
description. They have given special attention to the man- 
ufacture of ore-crushers, having shipped them to all parts 
of the West. Their mine pumps are famous wherever mine 
pumps are used, an4 are especially in demand on account 
of their simplicity and the care with which the materials 
entering into their construction are chosen. 

"Not how cheap but how good," has been the watch- 
word of the management and the results are evidenced in 
the large and constantly increasing business of the firm. 

CONNELLS\TLLE MACHINE & CAR COMPANY. 

On September 0th, 18()5, James AIcGrath, then foreman 
of the smith-shops of the Pittsburgh & Connellsville Rail- 
road at Connellsville, leased from Robert W. Francis for 
the term of ten years a piece of ground fifty-five by ninety 
feet, located on North alley, near Water street, for the pur- 
pose of erecting thereon a machine and smith-shop. On the 
16th of the same month he entered into partnership with 
Bernard Winslow. erected a wooden building thirty by 
fifty feet, and with three smith-fires and one old lathe, com- 
menced business under the name of McGrath & Winslow. 
Their manufactures consisted mainly of railroad frogs and 
switches and oil tools. On the 29th of February, 1866, 
Winslow sold out to George B. and Joseph T. McCormick, 
and the firm name was changed to McGrath, IMcCormick 
& Company. On September 1st following, William B. 
Stout and James B. Caven were taken into the partnership, 
the firm name remaining unchanged. 



492 CENTENNIAL IIISTORV OF COX X ELESNILEE 

Tlie company now added scjme new machinery and he- 
i^an to extend their business. Machine sho])s of this kind 
were until then unknown in this region, and peo])le were 
slow to believe that machine work and heavy and difficult 
torging's could be done at Connellsville. but the senior ])art- 
ner. Mr. McGrath. having" served his apprenticeship at the 
•extensive works of Charles C. Delaney. of JJuffalo, X. Y.. 
and having" worked in some of the principal work-shops of 
the country, soon gave evidence that intricate as well as 
heavy work could be done here as well as in the cities, and 
soon the company had more orders than their little shop 
could accommodate. About this time the coke trade began 
to assume large proportions, and on acc?ount of the scarcity 
of railroad cars several operators began to provide their 
own. As these cars, owing to the bad condition of the main 
road, were continually being Avrecked and broken, it became 
necessary for somebody to repair them, and the firm of Mc- 
Grath. McCormick & Co. undertook the business. Having" 
no suitable place to erect shops, they obtained privilege from 
the railroad company to lay a track along the bank of the 
river, immediately south of the present depot, and there in 
the open air, for two years, they did all the car repairing 
for the local coal companies, their carpenter shop consisting" 
of one end of the body of an old passenger car and the 
other end being occupied by the railroad company as a car 
inspector's ofBce and pattern shop. 

On the 13th of March, 18(51), the company succeeded in 
leasing from P. McCormick the lot adjoining their smith- 
shop, and immediately erected thereon a small car-shop 
twenty-five by eighty feet, and began the erection of coke- 
cars, mine-wagons, and all the various tools used in the 
making of coke. 

On the first day of May following, the remaining part- 
ners purchased the interest of George r>. McCormick. and 
changed the name of the company tt> '■The Connellsville 
Machine & Car Company." lUisiness now increased rapid- 
Iv, and it soon became necessarv to seek a better location 



MANUFACTURES 493 



and erect works of larger capacity. Accordingly on March 
•2()th. LST->, the company purchased from the "Connellsville 
Alutual Building and Loan Association" a tract of land 
lying on the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad at the 
mouth of Mount's creek, about one-quarter of a niile north 
of their former location. Here, in the year 1872, they 
erected a car-shop thirty by one hundred and twenty feet. 
and on May 21st. 1873, they purchased additional ground 
adjoining, and erected a machine and forging-shop and 
foundry of the same dimensions as the car-shop. Later 
other land was purchased, and the w^orks still further ex- 
tended and enlarged. 

On October 1st, 1873, the old shops were abandoned, 
and the machinery removed to the new. At the expiration 
of the ground lease in 1875. the old car-shop was removed 
to an adjoining lot, which had then come into the posses- 
sion of the company, and remodeled into a hardware store 
and office. 

The larger shops required many new tools, and lathes. 
planes, boring-mills, punches, drill-presses, steam-hammers. 
etc., were gradually added, until the works were as well 
equipped as any in the countr}-, and gave employment to 
from fifty to sixty hands, the products consisting of cars 
and railroad supplies, and all the various wants of coal. 
coke and fire-brick works, mills, furnaces, etc. The part- 
ners were all directly interested in the running of the works, 
and by careful attention to business had secured the con- 
fidence and patronage of the coal and iron operators of the 
entire Connellsville coke region. 

L'pon the death of J. B. Caven and of W. B. Stout, the 
surviving partners, James McGrath and Joseph T. Mc- 
Cormick, continued the business under the old name. 

Joseph T. McCormick died May 2d, 1904, and his son. 
Dr. Louis P. McCormick, succeeded him. J. W. Ralston. 
a son-in-law of Mr. AlcGrath, was taken into the firm and 
made secretarv and treasurer. The business was continued 



494 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

successfully until March 12th, 1!)U5, when the shops on 
Mount's creek were totally destroyed by fire. 

It was then decided that before rebuilding, the com- 
pany should be incorporated, as the business had grown to 
such an extent that it would recjuire much larger shops, and 
a more modern and convenient arrangement as well, to proj)- 
erly handle it. Accordingly, a charter was applied for un- 
der the name and style of Connellsville Machine and Car 
Company, which was granted by the State of Pennsylvania 
on September 30th, 1905. The capital stock was fixed at 
$150,000. James McGrath was elected president and gen- 
eral manager ; Charles Davidson, vice-president ; J. W. Ral- 
ston, secretary and treasurer. These, with Dr. Louis P. Mc- 
Cormick, W. F. Soisson, Charles F. Hood and W. E. Crow, 
constitute the board of directors. 

The erection of the new shops was started at once and 
are about completed. The buildings are brick, steel and 
concrete, being fire-proof construction throughout. They 
are very conveniently arranged for shipping the output of 
the plant and for bringing in raw material, having direct 
connections with both the Baltimore & Ohio and Pennsyl- 
vania railroads. 

The equipment is the very latest and best known, and 
makes this one of the most complete car, machine and forge 
shops in the country, — maintaining the reputation long 
established by its founders. 

The property on Water street was sold in h>bruary, 
1906, to the Connellsville Machine and Car Sup])ly Com- 
pany. 

AMERICAN STEEL COMPANY. 

About ISGG, J. M. Bailey and others of I Pittsburgh, 
erected an establishment for the manufacture of high-grade 
tool steel under the above title. The works were erected 
on the ground now occu])ied by the Sligo Iron & Steel Com- 
pany, at the north end of I'ittsburgh street, near tlic IX'uid- 
son Coke Works. The buildini'- was about two luimlred and 



MANUFACTURES "195 



seventy-five feet long by eighty feet wide and thirty feet 
high. The operation of the plant was not successful and 
the business was abandoned in less than a year. 

J. M. Bailey retained the title to the land on which the 
plant was built, consisting of about fifteen acres, and when, 
thirty-six years later, the ground occupied by Phillips, Nim- 
ick & Company, with the Sligo i\Iill of Pittsburgh, was con- 
demned bv the Panhandle railroad, thus causing the aban- 
donment of the business at that point, he organized the 

SLIGO IRON & STEEL COMPANY, 

with a capital of $250,000, associated with himself a num- 
ber of Connellsville people, through the efforts of John A. 
Guiler and others, and moved the business to Connellsville, 
where it is being operated under the new name. The com- 
pany gives employment to from three hundred to four hun- 
dred men and does a business of about $1,200,000 annually. 

Lipon the organization of the company here, Charles 
Davidson was elected president ; J. M. Bailey, vice-presi- 
dent ; E. T. Norton, treasurer, and Joseph McConnell, sec- . 
retary. Mr. Bailey died in the spring following the organi- 
zation, and J. M. Reid was elected vice-president to succeed 
him. The other members of the board of directors (besides 
those named above) are, J. D. Madigan, J. C. Munson and 
E. D. Fulton. Charles E. Duncan is manager, Omar S. 
Decker, sales agent, with an ofiice in Pittsburgh, and J. M. 
Cecil, chief clerk. 

The plant covers about three acres of ground along 
the Southwest Pennsylvania railroad and also has access to 
the Baltimore & Ohio railroad via the H. C. Frick Coke 
Co.'s tracks. 

It includes twenty-four puddling furnaces and four 
scrap furnaces, a gas house generating sufficient gas for 
seven large heating furnaces. A twenty-one-inch "Muck" 
mill, a sixty-inch plate mill, a sixteen-inch bar mill and 
a nine-inch guide mill, with a twelve-inch independent 
rouarhinsf mill or "breakdown." The bar and guide mills 



I 




PLANT OK THE SIvIGO IRON & STEEL COMPANY 



MANUFACTURES 497 



are "three-high;" as well as the "muck"" mill train, which 
has an automatic conve}'or and hot scale. 

The plant is equipped with fourteen boilers of 150 
horsepower each, and has a machine shop, blacksmith and 
roll-turning shop in a separate building. 

The office is located between the Southwest Pennsyl- 
vania railroad and ]\Iount"s creek, near the Davidson bridge, 
and about one hundred feet from the mill. It is a brick 
building, one and one-half stories high, conveniently fitted 
aad arranged, with ample storage space in the basement for 
patterns, small fittings, etc. 

The building has a hip roof, which allows room for an 
excellent draughting-room on the second floor. 

The company has on its own ground adjacent to the 
mill, twenty tenement houses. 

CONNELLSVILLE MANUFACTURING AND MINE SUPPLY CO. 

Located on an ideal manufacturing site in a portion of 
the Greenwood addition to New Haven, along the South- 
west Pennsylvania railroad and near the junction of the 
P. & L. E. R. R. and B. & O. R. R., is one of the latest 
additions to Connellsville"s manufacturing establishments. 

The buildings are of brick, iron and wood and are 
most substantial and modern in every respect. The lighting 
is excellent as well as the drainage, making a cheerful and 
desirable place in which to work. 

The main building is -l:Ox'2(32 feet, 34: feet high in the 
clear, with a lean-to annex 30 feet wide and 15 feet high 
in the clear, running the entire length on each side of the 
main building. In front is a storage and stock vard, trav- 
ersed by a railroad siding, a branch of which extends into 
the south end of the main building, aflrording greater con- 
venience in shipping the heavier manufactured products of 
the works. 

At the southeast corner of the building is the office, 
a two-story brick structure, 25x35 feet, the second floor of 
which is used for the draughting and engineering depart- 
ment. 



498 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSN ILLE 

The machine shop proper is 40x1 '^j feet, and contains 
a number of the largest and most approved machine tools 
in the country. 

Running on tracks 26 feet above the floor of the shop 
is a twenty-ton, electric, traveling" crane, by means of which 
the heaviest class of work can be easily handled at all stages 
of construction. 

There are two machine shop annexes : One on the 
west side, 30x45 feet, especially fitted up for car wheel axle 
and heavy pipe work. One on the east side, 30x45 feet, in 
which are the smaller lathes, drills,' boring-mills, shapers, 
etc.. for handling the more complicated parts of the various 
machines manufactured. 

Joining the machine shop on the north is the foundry, 
40x125 feet, also spanned with a twenty-ton electric crane 
and several jib cranes of from two to six tons each. 

To the west is a lean-to 30x85 feet, used as a brass 
foundry, core rooms, cupola room, etc. A hoisting cage, 
driven by electric motors, places all materials at tlic cui)ola 
door. The same motor furnishes power for the blast. ( )n 
the east side of the foundry a lean-to 30xT5 feet is equip])e(l 
as a rumbler, cleaning room, storage room and moulding 
floor. Here, also, is a three-story division. ."iOxoi) foot, for 
pattern storage. 

Between the foundry and machine shop is a twelve-fool 
passageway where is located a fifteen-ton platform scale 
with shop track running across it. 

On the west side of the main l)uilding arc llirce wings, 
40x50 feet each. The first on the south is the structiu-al 
iron department, wherein are manufactured ln)isling 
cages, larries, chutes, screens, mine fans, car and 
structural work. It is equipped with the best ])o\\er-driven 
bending rt)lls, ])unches and shears of large cajiacily. Xext 
to the north is the forging shoj), e(|uip])ed with forges, fur- 
naces and heavy steam lianiniers — the wm-k being handled 
by a large jib crane. 

Last is the pattern shop. t'ulK (.'([uiiiped with hitest im- 



MANUFACTURES 499 



proved machinery for expeditiously making the large num- 
ber of patterns required in such a complex business. 

The boiler room is located away from the building 
convenient to the railroad and has a storage capacity for 
one hundred tons of coal. 

The exhaust steam from the engine driving the electric 
generator is utilized in heating the shop by means of a large 
hot-blast fan — the hot air being driven through large con- 
ductors, which are in summer used for circulating cold 
air by a fan for the purpose. 

Large and roomy toilet and wash rooms for the con- 
venience of its employees have been fitted up by the com- 
pany and every effort made to make the surroundings com- 
fortable and congenial. 

The company was organized in June, 1901. The offi- 
cers are, Rockwell Marietta, president ; Clair Stillwagon, 
vice-president ; W. H. Hugus, chairman of the board ; W. 
H. Soisson, secretary and treasurer ; D. F. Lepley, general 
manager. 

TANNERIES. 

Anthony Banning, an itinerant ]\Iethodist preacher 
who had been a business man of no mean ability, as well, 
built a tannery on McCoy's run south of Zachariah Con- 
nell's stone house. This was some time between 1791 and 
1799. 

John Fuller built a small tannery on lot 153 of Con- 
nell's plat, and later removed to East Apple street (about 
where the English Lutheran Church now stands), and 
started another tannery. This passed from him to William 
Goe, Joel Strawn, Cooper and others, and was discontinued 
about 1870. There is no date obtainable for the establish- 
ment of Fuller's tannery, but it was previous to 1833. 

Near Norton's fulling-mill (at the foot of the hill back 
of the Christian Church), in 1833, was Isaac Taylor's tan- 
nery. In 1838 he moved his tan-yard to the north side of 



500 CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILI.F 

town, about one square from the present site of the I Balti- 
more & Ohio railroad depot. The business was successfully 
managed for many years. He was still in business in 1S.~)(». 
In the early '40's, Joseph Taylor (a brother of Isaac's) 
came to Connellsville and started a tannery, near the river 
on the New Haven side, about where the Southwest Penn- 
sylvania railroad bridge crosses. 

BRICK-MAKING. 

In the hills about Connellsville are many valuable de- 
posits of fire-clay, silica rock and other excellent bi'ick- 
making materials. Anthony Banning was the first person 
to utilize these deposits, making the brick for the first lirick 
house built in Connellsville — afterwards known as the Stew- 
art Johnson house. This was shortly after the founding of 
the town. 

Later, David Barnes engaged in the business, and was 
running a brick-yard in 182.3. There were many other 
brick-makers who followed the lead of these pioneers in a 
small way, but it remained for Joseph Soisson. founder 
of the 

JOSEPH SOISSON FIRE BRICK COMTANY. 

to enter into the development of the business on an extensive 
scale. 

]\rr. Soisson came to ConnellsA-illc in ISi;.') from ( )ak- 
dale, on the Baltimore & ( )hio railroad, a shurt distance 
below Dawson, where he had been o]ierating tlic Milton- 
burger plant since 18()"2, coming there from IWair coiuUv. 

Many are the interesting experiences told 1)\ Mr. Sois- 
son of events that occurred during the Civil War. through 
the facility of his cla\- mines as hiding ]")laces for tliose who 
feared the j^rovost marshal and other Cnited States officers 
in search of men who did not want to tight for the Cnion. 
Squire J. M. Lytle made a luimber of visits in his cajiaeitN 
as ]:»r()vost marshal for this i)in'pose. 



MANUFACTURES 501 



The output at Oakdale was small indeed compared to 
that of the present day, yet Mr. Soisson was compelled to 
have a storage place in Pittsburgh (close to the present Bal- 
timore & Ohio depot), as the ironmasters never bought 
more than 300 or 400 bricks at a time. 

Upon coming to Connellsville, Mr. Soisson entered into 
partnership with Spriggs & Wilhelm at White Rock, under 
the firm name of Soisson, Spriggs & Co. This plant was 
located at the foot of Gibson avenue, between the main line 
of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad and the branch to Union- 
town, at the present time entirely covered by the B. & O. 
yards. 

Air. Soisson anticipated the great demand for fire-brick 
caused by the development of the coke industry. His first 
effort in this line was in 1865, while still operating the Mil- 
tonburger plant, where he made sufficient brick for Stewart 
Strickler to build ten bee-hive ovens near Dawson. 

Soon after this work was completed, Messrs. Brown 
& Cochran, known as "Big Jim" Cochran, of Dawson, and 
Mr. Brown of Pittsburgh, built what is known as the "Jim- 
town" works, Mr. Soisson making the brick and shapes for 
something over one hundred ovens. 

It is well known, and a fact often commented upon, that 
the general shape of the brick going into coke ovens has 
never been materially changed to the present day. 

These old "Jimtown" ovens have recently been fired 
up and are used to-day by the Shannon Coal & Coke Co., of 
Uniontown. 

In 1872, the Henry AI. Freed tract of land, on which 
the Alover plant of the Soisson Brick Company now stands, 
was purchased, thus giving shipping points on the new 
Southwest Pennsylvania railroad, which was being built at 
the time as a feeder for the Pennsylvania railroad. This 
works was established by Joseph Soisson, John Kilpatrick 
and John Wilhelm, and the partnership w^as called Kilpat- 
rick, Soisson & Company. Later Mr. Wilhelm withdrew 
and Worth Kilpatrick succeeded his father, the firm name 




PLANTS OK THE SOISSdX KIKK I'.KICK. COMPANY 



MANUFACTURES 503 



being changed to Soisson & Kilpatrick. Air. Kilpatrick 
finally withdrew from the firm and all of the works were 
consolidated under the name and style of Joseph Soisson 
and Sons. 

The Volcano yard at South Connellsville was built in 
1883, and the Davidson yard, at the north end of town, in 
188G. 

There were a number of changes in the name of the 
firm from time to time, but ]\Ir. Joseph Soisson has always 
exercised direct control of the business. 

In 189-i, the company was incorporated under the laws 
of the State of Pennsylvania with the title of the Joseph 
Soisson Fire Brick Company. Since 1894, the holdings of 
the company have been increased by the addition of three 
plants, the Diamond plant near Layton, the Lavenia plant 
below Dawson, and Kingston on the Ligonier Valley rail- 
road in Westmoreland county, making, all told, six well- 
equipped plants, producing 100,000 fire-brick daily. 

When ]\Ir. Soisson commenced operations in Fayette 
county forty-four years ago, the output was about 2,000 
brick per day, his pay roll amounting to about $G00 per 
month. To-day the Joseph Soisson Fire Brick Company 
pay out for labor every month over $15,000. 

The capital stock of the company is $100,000 ; surplus, 
$150,000. The business is conducted by the following ofii- 
cers : Joseph Soisson, president ; W. F. Soisson, manager ; 
V. H. Soisson, secretary. 

PITTSBURGH ART STONE COMPANY. 

C. L. Edmonds and others organized this company 
under the laws of the District of Columbia in 1905, with 
a capital of $25,000. Its officers were, L. A. Howard, presi- 
dent; BVank R. Graham, vice-president; H. A. Crow, sec- 
retary ; Peter Rutsek, treasurer ; C. L. Edmonds, manager. 
These gentlemen, with John J. Enos and Dr. E. P. Clark, 
constituted the board of directors. 

Ground was purchased in "Dutch Bottom," near the 



504 CENTEX XI AL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Soisson Fire Brick Company's works, and a l)uil(ling" erected 
entirely of artificial stone, including' the roof. 'Jdiis struc- 
ture is two stories high and occupies 30 feet by 5U feet. 

The company makes a specialty of artificial stone, but 
does all kinds of concrete construction and cement work. 
The most important contracts undertaken thus far are a 
church in the Oakland district. Pittsburgh, and a residence 
on the south side of Connellsville for Peter Rutsek, both 
of which are built of artificial stone throughout. 

Its work is becoming more and more popular and the 
officers think the business has a great future. 

The management contemplate incorporating under 
Pennsylvania laws and relinquishing the District of Colum- 
bia charter at an earl}- date. The number of directors has 
been reduced to five, who are also the officers of the com- 
pany, as follows : President, H. A. Crow ; vice-president. 
V. H. Soisson; secretary, Fred Xeuroth ; treasurer, Peter 
Rutsek ; manager, C. L. Edmonds. 

PLANING :MILLS AND BCILDING CONTRACTORS. 

David Walker & Company conducted a planing mill 
and did general contracting in the buildings formerly occu- 
pied by the old Fuller tannery on Grape alley. Some years 
previous to 1S80. he had abandoned the mill and retired 
from business. J. R. Balsley had been superintendent for 
James Calhoun and Company for a number of years, and 
desiring to start for himself, bought the old ])lant and cstal)- 
lished the Youghiogheny Lumber Yard in lSS-.\ using the 
old building for his planing mill and shop and the tan-yard 
for lumber storage. ITe put up a Ijuilding on tlie north west 
corner of the property, using the first fioor as an office and 
the second floor as a finishing shop for fine work. 

About 1885 he erected a two-story structure on Tiiis- 
burgh street, on part of the ])lot now occupied b\ the .Mc- 
Clenathan block, and used it as an (office and store room, 
adding a line of building sui)pHes. Al llie same lime he took 
into the firm Dr. S. S. ."^tahl, — the name Ikmul;- |. I\. I'.al-le\ 



:^IANUFACTURES 505 



& Co. In 180'^ this partnership sold out to J. C. Munson 
and others. 

After a numher of years" retirement from the building 
and contracting business, Air. Balsley, a few years ago. 
estabhshed himself in New Haven under the old name of 
the "Youghioghenv Lumber Yard," giving most of his at- 
tention- to merchandising in lumber, builders' supplies, etc. 

FAYETTE LUAIBER COAIPAXY, LIMITED. 

This company was formed in 189"^. to take over the 
business of the Youghiogheny Lumber Yard. Its capital 
was $15,0UO, since increased to $20,000. 

Charles Davidson was made president; J. C. Munson, 
secretary and treasurer. These two gentlemen, with Col. 
J. J\I. Reid, constituted the board of managers. There has 
been no change in the management since the compau}- 
started, which in a measure accounts for the company's 
success. By a policy of fairness in dealing and attention to 
details maintained by them, they have gained for their com- 
pany an enviable reputation throughout this part of the 
state. 

The plant was lirst located in the buildings occupied 
by the Youghiogheny Lumber Yard, including the oflface on 
Pittsburgh street, but upon the erection of the McClenathan 
building, the company, being obliged to give up its office, 
purchased a site on Eighth street and Gibson avenue with 
Pennsylvania railroad connections. The office and planing 
mill is on the north side of Gibson avenue and the lumber 
3'^ard on the south side. 

The mill is ec[uipped with nine electric motors, aggre- 
gating thirty-five horsepower. Each machine has its own 
independent motor, affording great economy in the use of 
power. 

The compan}" employs forty men the year round, and 
at times twice that number. Among the more important 
buildings erected by this company might be named the First 
Baptist Church, one of the most beautiful and costlv 



506 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

churches in Connellsville, at the corner of South Pittsburgh 
street and Baldwin avenue. It also erected the Dunn- Paine 
building, the Third Ward school, both the Baltimore & Ohio 
and Pennsylvania railroad depots, the Slaymaker-Barry 
Company's buildings, the factory for the Pittsburgh Safe 
Company, the Sligo Iron & Steel Company, the residence 
of Charles Davidson, the Wishart building and Baptist 
Church at Dunbar, Pa., besides a great manv other resi- 
dences and business houses in Connellsville and vicinity. 

CONNELLSVILLE PLANING MILL COMPANY. 

Incorporated 1904, under Pennsylvania laws, with a 
capital of $25,000. H. M. Kerr is president; J. A. Arm- 
strong, vice-president, and J. A. Russell, secretary and treas- 
urer. This corporation succeeded to the business of Cal- 
houn & Company when the old mill was destroyed by reason 
of the taking over of the property by the Baltimore & Ohio 
Railroad Company. They built a new mill, operated by a 
gas engine on South alley and Arch street. 

Calhoun & Company, a partnership formed in 1883, 
were the successors of a long line of planing mill operators 
on the same site, beginning with Carson & Nickel, who 
were succeeded in time by Calhoun & Carson, James Cal- 
houn, and James Calhoun & Company. 

SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE LUMBER COMPANY. 

John F. Soisson, J. N. Sisley and others organized the 
above company and a charter was granted by the state of 
Pennsylvania, July loth, 1896. The capital stock was $10,- 
000.00 full paid. 

The company was called into existence by the increased 
demand for dwellings caused 1)\' tlie ra]Md dcveloiiment of 
South Connellsville, the exj^loitation of which ])lacc had 
been started during the previous year. Its officers and 
directors were John F. Soisson, president ; J. X. Sisley. sec- 
retary and manager; Jose])h Wilson. W. II. Wilson and 
Joseph Welier. 



MANUFACTURES 507 



A planing mill was erected at South Connellsville, and 
the company soon had a flourishing business. Most of the 
dwellings of South Connellsville were erected by it as well 
as many in other parts of Connellsville and New Haven. 

The present officers are : Vincent H. Soisson, presi- 
dent ; W. S. Ringer, secretary and treasurer. These, with 
Michael Hurley, W. F. Soisson and G. A. Whitney, con- 
stitute the board of directors. 

CONNELLSVILLE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. 

On the evening of February 23rd, 1903, a meeting was 
held in the parlors of the First National Bank of Connells- 
ville, and an organization known as the Connellsville Con- 
struction Company formed for the purpose of doing gen- 
eral contracting, building, painting, and retailing builders' 
supplies. Offices were secured in the First National Bank 
building, and property purchased on Gibson avenue and 
Railroad street for use as a general yard. 

The authorized capital of this company is $50,000.00, 
$19,800.00 having been paid in. It is incorporated under 
the laws of Pennsylvania, its charter being dated March 
25th, 1903. At the time of its formation, there were 46 
stockholders. 

At the stockholders' meeting, the following officers and 
directors were elected to serve for one year from that date : 
President, F. T. Evans ; vice president, C. M. Hyatt ; secre- 
tary, J. Fred Kurtz ; treasurer, C. D. Schell ; manager, A. 
M. Haines. 

Directors. — F. T. Evans, E. T. Norton, C. M. Hyatt, 
C. D. Schell, John Curry, G. W. Stauffer and A. M. Haines. 

The present officers and directors are : President, F. 
T. Evans; vice president, C. ]\I. Hyatt; secretary and treas- 
urer, J. Fred Kurtz ; manager, A. iM. Haines. 

Directors. — F. T. Evans, E. T. Norton, C. M. Hyatt, 
E. C. Higbee, John Curry, A. M. Haines and J. A. Guiler. 

From its inception, the Connellsville Construction Com- 
pany entered into the business life of Connellsville with 



508 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

energy, and it has been a prominent factor in furthering- 
the interests best calculated to bring the town favorabl}- to 
the notice of investors and business men. 

It has not confined itself to doing work for others ; 
numerous pieces of real estate, in different sections of the 
citv, have been purchased, and up-to-date, modern dwell- 
ings erected thereon, same being sold outright upon com- 
pletion. 

Approximately, 135 houses and buildings have Ijeen 
erected since 1903. 

From sixty to eighty carpenters, painters, masons. 
drivers, laborers, etc., are employed throughout the year. 

This company's operations have covered considerable 
territory, work having been done in Connellsville, South 
Connellsville, New Haven, Greenwood, Leisenring, Dun- 
bar, Upper Middletown, Dawson, Vanderbilt. and Moyer. 
Among the larger buildings erected by them are the fol- 
lowing: Young Men's Christian Association, The Aaron 
Company, Masonic Temple, Baltimore & Ohio freight and 
passenger depot, Leisenring and Greenwood school build- 
ings, First National Bank building at Dunbar, shops for 
the H. C. Frick Coke Company at Bitner, h^irst National 
Bank building at Vanderbilt, etc., etc. 

Merchandise bought. — 1903, $49,37 5. tiT; 1904, S4(i,- 
282.59; 1905, $67,102.30; 1906, $53,614.21. 

Wages paid. — 1903, $23,901.73; 1901, $23.2SS.-I2: 
1905. $27,882.46; 1906, $31,645.03. . 

Business done.— 1903, $81,128.15; 190^. $9 1.5|;!.51: 
1905, $106,061.73; 1906, $98,903.22. 

THE KEYSTONE PLANING MILL COMl'A.W. 

Incorporated in the latter part of 1905 with a capital 
of $5,000.00, the latest addition to Connellsvillc's planing 
mills and lumber companies has started off ver\ auspiciouslv 
and has already provided for an increase in iis cai)ital stock 
of $15,000.00 making a total of $20,0()().(i() i)ai<l in. 

The incorporators were Jolm D. .Shorrick. lame- W. 



MANUFACTURES 509 



Buttermore, Robert L. Hannani and W. E. Mier of whom 
Tames W. Buttermore was chosen president : John D. Sher- 
rick, vice president; W. E. Mier, treasurer, and Robert L. 
Hannam, secretary and manager of the Company. 

Its mill and yard are located on the Erick siding near 
the Sligo Iron and Steel Company, whence it will event- 
ually have connection with both the Baltimore & Ohio and 
Pennsylvania Railroads. 

Although very voung the management have entered 
into the business with vim and aggressiveness and bid fair 
to become a substantial addition to Connellsville's manu- 
facturing interests. 

W. A. Hazlett, Worth K. Balsley and Joseph Wilson 
are contractors and builders who have done excellent wtrk. 

CARDING AND FULLING MILL. CARDING 
^lACHINES FACTORY. COTTON FACTORY. 

Philo Norton, father of Daniel S., C. A., Philo and 
L. L. Norton, came from New England in FS12 and erected 
at Connellsville the first carding machine put in operation 
this side of the mountains. It was located on McCoy's 
run near the old cotton factory which was built by his 
son. Daniel S. Norton, and Abram lialdwin at about the 
same time. 

There was quite a fall at this point on the run which 
furnished the water powder. The building was a four-story 
stone structure and the ruins were standing- until about 
two years ago. These ruins were quite frequently sought 
by those in search of the picturesque — the ivy-clad walls 
adding a touch of romance to the surroundings and have 
been many times transferred to canvas by ambitious A«nuig 
artists and by some painters of note, as well. 

The fourth story of the building was about on the 
level of Fairview avenue and a bridge from this story con- 
necting the factory with the road was the usual means 
of going to and from the building. It could also be en- 
tered from below. 




RUINS OF THE OT.D COTTON FACTOR V 



MANUFACTURES 511 



L. L. Xorton, C. A. Norton and Abram Balchvin suc- 
ceeded to the business about 1825, under the firm name 
of C. A. and L. L. Xorton and Company. (Daniel Xorton 
having removed to Mt. Vernon, Ohio), but after two or 
three years abandoned the business, as competition from 
the east with improved machinery made it unprofitable. 

This firm was also engaged about the same time and 
for some years previously at a point on the run about one 
hundred yards above where it is "now crossed by Pitts- 
burgh street, in the manufacture of carding, spinning and 
threshing machines. 

April 12th, 1812, Abram Baldwin and Daniel S. Nor- 
ton contracted with John Feikh of Allegheny County, Md., 
for the building of "a good carding machine near this 
place" (Connellsville). A copy of this agreement is still 
in existence. Philo Norton, father of Daniel S. Xorton, 
was the original projector of this enterprise, and continued 
in the firm for some time, but afterwards moved to Louis- 
iana with his wife and younger members of his family, 
where he died. 

About where Pittsburgh street crosses McCoy's Run, 
Lester L. Xorton had a dam which furnished the power 
for a carding, spinning and fulling mill. In those days 
most of the farmers raised their own wool and flax, and 
made all of their common and some of their best dress 
goods. (That it was good quality, goes without saving.) 
They brought the wool and flax to the mill to be carded 
and spun, and after it was woven brought it back that the 
mill might "full" it for them. This mill was built about 
1820 and was operated until February, 18.')(), when Mr. 
Xorton moved to Mt. Vernon, Ohio. The water power was 
utilized through an overshot water-wheel aft'ording sufii- 
cient potential to run four carding machines, a spinning 
jenny and a fulling mill. 

The ruins of this mill were standing in 1893, and the 
walls of the dam were only obliterated when South Pitts- 
burgh street was extended across the run. 



512 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLR 

PAPER MILLS. 

Daniel and Joseph Rogers, of Connellsville. and Zadoc 
Walker, of Uniontown, established in 1810, an extensive 
paper mill on the right bank of the Youghiogheny river, 
a short distance above the present boundaries of South 
Connellsville. 

The firm of Rogers and Walker was succeeded in 1S31 
bv Herman Gebhart, Josiah Kurtz and L. L. Norton, under 
the firm name of Gebhart, Norton and Kurtz. During their 
operation of the mill, Samuel Freeman, who afterwards 
became a large property owner and an important citizen of 
Connellsville, drove a team for them, selling paper and 
buying rags all over the country. He became a skilled 
trader, and often told in after years that he had "learned 
the knack" while working for the "paper mill." R. M. 
Torrence was the bookkeeper. 

D. S. Knox, ]M. Lore and John Scott next succeeded 
to the ownership of the property, and as a firm continued 
the manufacture of pa]:>er until IMarch ?lst, lSo(i. when 
the business was closed and the partnership dissolved, its 
afifairs being wound up by D. S. Knox. 

The paper manufactured at this mill was of a very 
superior qualitv, caused as it was said by the clearness and 
purity of the water of the Youghioghen\- river, which was 
used in the process. The product of this mill was shipped 
by the boat load to New Orleans and other jxtints ou the 
lower river. 

The business done here both by the original i)ro])rie- 
tors and their successors (but particularly by Mr. Knox 
and his associates), was very large and quite a little vil- 
lage grew up in the vicinit)- of the mill. 

The ruins of the old mill were still standing and could 
l)e easily seen from the cars until a few years ago. when 
the necessities of the railroad for more tracks al)ont de- 
stroyed them. An old stone house is al)out all thai remains 
of the once jirosperous manufactor_\- and its neighboring" 
dwellings. 



MANUFACTURES 513 



The Trevor family had a paper mill in Xew Haven 
succeeding- Col. Miller, which was afterwards leased to 
Gebhart & Freeman ( Herman Gebhart and Samuel Free- 
man alread\' mentioned ) . It was located where Kell Long's 
warehouse now stands. 

S. CROSSLAND CARRIAGE AND WAGON 
COMPANY. 

In the vear 1839 Samuel Crossland began the manu- 
facture of "good road wagons" on the left bank of the 
Youghioghenv river near Broad Ford. He was eminently 
successful in the production of heavy wagons for farming 
and other purposes, and became famed far and wide for the 
wearing qualities of his wagons. 

A gentleman born and raised in the vicinity of Con- 
nellsville purchased a farm about 1885, in the highlands 
of North Carolina ; upon taking possession he concluded 
to raze an old shed that stood at "an out-of-the-way point 
on the property. He found within it the front truck of a 
wagon in good condition, and remarked at once that it 
had a familiar look. Upon making inquiry he learned that 
the wagon had been on the property for "upwards of fifty 
years." and onlv a few years before had the hind-truck 
been destroyed. 

He though it looked like a "Crossland wagon," but 
was ready to abandon the idea when he learned its age. 
A few davs later in handling some of the boards from 
the old structure, one of his men found the side-board of a 
wagon with "Crossland. Pa." painted on it — dim yet legible. 

The little plant at Broad Ford was oftimes heavily 
taxed to keep up with the demand which grew apace as 
the quality of workmanship and material put in the Cross- 
land wagons became known. 

The sons of Samuel Crossland were trained to the 
trade and assisted in the shops. The business was man- 
aged by the father until 1888, when H. T. Crossland took 
over the management on account of the advanced age of 
the founder who was then in his seventy-second year. 



514 CENTENKIi\L HISTORY OF COXXlii.LS\'ILI.I': 

Two years later M. C. Crossland came into the tirni 
and it was called S. Crossland's Sons. In l!»(il the l)usi- 
ness was incorporated under Pennsylvania laws with a 
capital of $4(),0()().()(). H. T. Crossland is the i)resident and 
treasurer ; W. A. Huster is secretary. 

THE RIVERSIDE AIETAL REEIXIXG COM PAX Y. 

In 1895 Charles F. Hood, P. S. Xewmyer and Harr\' 
S. Stout organized the Riverside Manufacturing Conipanw 
for the purpose of refining and smelting metals and re- 
claiming waste. 

A factory was erected on Race street near Trump run 
consisting of two buildings about 40 x 100 feet each, one 
of which was used for the smelting works, and the other 
for taking the oil out of greasy waste and making it as 
"good as new," the oils being saved in the process. 

The business was continued for several years Vv'ith ap- 
parent success, but finally discontinued for lack of suffi- 
cient capital. 

H. S. Stout and others then organized the Riverside 
Manufacturing and Supply Company, Limited, with a capi- 
tal of $10,000.00. 

The property of its predecessor shortl}' thereaftei 
passed into the hands of the Crescent ^^lanufacturing Com- 
pany, and Mr. Stout erected a frame building on Cedar 
avenue at the corner of Vine street and continued the 
metal refining and smelting lousiness and handled a line 
of supi)lies for manufactories such as. waste, oil. i)acking. 
etc. 

Upon the death of Mr. St(^ut which Innk ])lace a few- 
years after the estaJDlishment of the works, the business 
was continued bv his j^artners, W'm. (i. Mar(|ua, b^hn L. 
Gans and others, who, in September, I'.Mi;. organized the 
Riverside Metal Refining ComjDany, with an authorized cap- 
ital of $-35,000. 01). of vJiich $15,000.01) was paid in. I'he 
side line of su])])lies was disconliuued and cs]H'cial allen- 
tion "Mven to the metal business. 



MANUFACTURES 515 



The products consist of ingot copper, ingot brass, pig 
tin, pig lead, spelter, babbitts, solders, phosphor bronze 
and special alloys made to formulae. 

Ilie president of the company is E. T. Norton ; sec- 
retary and treasurer. John L. Gans ; manager, C. W. Nor- 
ton , sales manager, A. L. Klaus, with an office in the Wa- 
bash Building, Pittsburgh. 

HIGHLAND ELECTRO-CHEAHCAL MANUFACTUR- 
ING COMPANY. 

With the rapid growth of the manufacture of electri- 
cal machinery and instruments came a demand for a solder- 
ing compound or flux to take the place of acids which had 
always been used in the soldering process — the acid injures 
the insulation and many chemists have endeavored to find 
a substitute. 

In the fall of 1(S9G, Charles F. Hood, started the man- 
ufacture in Connellsville of a soldering paste which over- 
came the objections to acid — inasmuch as the necessary 
fluxes are contained in an "envelope" not injurious and 
being in paste form will not run or spread but stay just 
where it is wanted. 

The business has grown remarkabl}' — the product be- 
ing sold in all parts of the world. Wherever electrical work 
is carried on, "Highland paste" is known and used. The 
output was 23,000 pounds last year, having a value of $23,- 
000.00. 

The factory is located on Race street. 

HUSSAR CHEMICAL COMPANY. 

Another of Mr. C. F. Hood's enterprises is the man- 
ufacture of a soldering stick (in tubes) and chloride of 
zinc salts (in bottles) for the tinning and canning trade, 
under the above title. This is different from the paste in 
that the parts to be soldered are first heated, causing the 
compound to spread. It is much used by manufacturing 
jewelers and in some lines of electrical work as well. 



516 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONXELLSN'JLLE 



The business was started in IDUT). Associated with 
Air. Hood in this company is J. L. Schick. 

The sales last year amounted to 5,000 pounds valued 
at $5,000.00. 

HIGHLAND CHEMICAL PRODUCTS COMPANY. 

Organized in 1905 by Chas. F. Hood and others for 
the purpose of manufacturing non-corrosive coating for 
ise on mine pumps, pipes, etc., wherever exposed to sulphur 
water. This coating has been found to be excellent also, 
in ice plants, breweries and like plants where machinery is 
affected by acids. 

They manufacture also a red oxide paint for tinners* 
use in painting roofs, spouting, etc., and a black paint for 
structural iron work — bridges, fences, fire escapes, furnace 
stacks and all iron work exposed to the weather. 

The output last year was two barrels per da}', valued 
at $20,000.00. 

The two companies last named occupy the old Cres- 
cent Manufacturing Company's plant. 

TRI-STATE CANDY COMPANY. 

This company was incorporated February 15th. liMKi. 
under the laws of the state of Pennsylvania, for the jiur- 
pose of manufacturing confectionery and conducting a 
wholesale business in confectioneries and kindred lines. 

The corporation was formed for the purpose of takin;.; 
over the business of Doyle, r>rill & Co.. and Car])cnler 
Bros., co-partnerships which had 1)een conducting a like 
business for some years previously. 

The company has erected at the corner of reach and 
Arch streets a handsome three-story l)rick building ."l.') x \-\'' 
feet with a finisJTed basement under the whole. 

The building is e{|uipped in the most u])-to-(laU' >l\le 
for the ])ro])er handling of the growing l)usin(.>s oi tlir 
com])any. 



MANUFACTURES 517 



CONNELLSA'ILLE MANUFACTURING CO^IPANY. 

This company was organized some eight years ago for 
the purpose of manufacturing Chmax Washing Tablets. 
The plant is located in New Haven and has quite an output 
in its specialty which is in great demand for laundering, 
cleaning wood-w^ork and paints-, polishing glass, renovat- 
ing carpets, rugs and general cleaning". 

It was first manufactured under the name of the Ivory 
Washing Tablet, but the manufacturers of Ivory Soap con- 
sidered it an infringement of their trade-mark, so the name 
was changed to Climax Washing Tablets. I. C. Smitz is 
at the head of this enterprise. 

MUNSON HEATER COAIPANY. LHIITED. 

Incorporated in 190-5 for the purpose of manufacturing 
heaters on the direct hot-air plan. 

They have cjuite an establishment at the north end of 
town near the Sligo Iron & Steel Company's works. 

The product is very popular and the demand has al- 
ready made necessary extensive additions to the plant. 

J. C. Alunson is president, George A. ]\Iunson, secre- 
tary and treasurer: AA'. J. \\^oodall, manager: P. C. Cash, 
general sales agent. 

THE CRESCENT MANUFACTURING CO. AND THE 
LACKAWANNA LUBRICATOR CO. 

Was organized in January, 1900, by Pittsburgh and 
Cleveland parties, and a majority of the stock was accjuired 
b}' Connellsville people in June of the same year. It began 
business in the old Riverside Works on Trump run at the 
southern extremity of the borough. The principal line man- 
ufactured consisted of brass goods used in sanitary plumb- 
ing such as hot and cold double bath cocks, compression 
bibbs, basin cocks in various styles, gas cocks, ball cocks, 
tank trimmings, traps of all sorts and styles, "connected 
wastes" overflows, etc., etc. 



518 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

In October, 1901, those interested in the Crescent ]\lan- 
ufacturing Company secured by purchase all the stock, real 
estate, plant and equipment of the Lackawanna Lubricator 
Company of Wilmington, Del., formerly located at Scran- 
ton, Pa. This corporation controls valuable patents cover- 
ing a line of automatic grease cups and sight feed lubri- 
cators which have an established reputation among con- 
sumers. 

The two companies gave employment to about lUO men 
and boys and had annual output of about $120,000.00. 

Scottdale parties became heavily interested in the con- 
cern and about 1903 the establishment was moved to that 
place. 

The officers during the last year of operation in Con- 
nellsville were: W. F. Stauffer, president; D. B. Williams, 
general manager ; Geo. T. Griffin, treasurer ; Robert Klemm, 
superintendent, of the Crescent Manufacturing Company, 
and John M. Staufifer, president; Chas. H. Smith, Jr., vice 
president ; Geo. T. Griffin, secretary and treasurer of the 
Lackawanna Lubricator Company. 

HUMBERT TIN PLATE COMPANY. 

South Connellsville was first brought into notice, in- 
dustrially, during the year 1895, when the organization of 
the Connellsville Sheet Iron and Tin Plate Company, for 
the purpose of building a sheet iron and tin i)late works 
at that place was accomplished. 

The incorporators of the company were: Cieorgc J. 
Humbert, G. W. Humbert, A. ^I. King, jr., and T. R. 
Morgan, all of whom were also directors of it. George J. 
Humbert was president and treasurer ; G. W. Humliert, 
vice president; A. M. King, Jr., secretary. 

A large piece of land was secured from tlic Connells- 
ville Extension Com])any and work started at once. The 
plant was completed and i)ut in operation in (^ctol)or, 1S!m;. 
and consisted of f(nn- mills with C()nii)lotc annealing and 
tinning equipment. 



MANUFACTURES 519 



The name of the corporation was changed about this 
time to the Humbert Tin Plate Company. Two additional 
mills were added during 1897, making it a complete six 
mill plant, which was successfully operated as such until 
sold to the American Tin Plate Company in the fall of 
1898. It gave employment to 450 men. 

W. H. Baldridge, of New York, was made secretary 
and treasurer during 1897, succeeding A. M. King, Jr. 
The Stickney Iron and Steel Company of Baltimore was 
leased and operated by the Humbert Tin Plate Company 
from 189 T until the latter company sold out. 

The American Tin Plate Company was purchased by 
the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company, which is one 
of the subsidiary companies of the Cnited States Steel Cor- 
poration. 

The plant has not been in operation for some months, 
it being the policy of the Steel Corporation to operate the 
smaller plants only when the needs of the trade demand it. 
Everything about the works is, however, kept in excellent 
repair and ready to start on short notice. 

SLAYAIAKER-BARRY COMPANY. BALDWIN 
AUTOMOBILE COMPANY. 

The largest lock factory in the world was established 
at South Connellsville in 1893, and operated steadily and 
successfully until the fall of 1808 when it was almost com- 
pletely destroyed by fire. The company gave constant em- 
ployment to over 200 men and boys, and was much missed 
in the industrial community surrounding Connellsville. 
After it was rebuilt the automobile industry began to de- 
velop on a large scale and the nianagemen': — having the 
necessary machinery — thought it an opportunity to go into 
the manufacture of automobiles. In 1900 it was turned into 
a factory for that purpose, manufacturing all the parts of 
a steam-propelled automobile, excepting wheels, tires and 
bodies. 

The plant was quite extensive and gave employment to 



o20 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

several hundred men. The main building" was a machine 
shop and erecting rooms, 400 feet by 40 feet with a lean-to 
200 feet by 30 feet. The boiler house was 40 feet l)y DO 
feet and besides it had complete iron and brass foundries 
and a hammer shop. Most of the construction was iron 
and brick. 

The manufacture of automobiles was a little prema- 
ture as the business was still in the experimental stage and 
the owners becoming disappointed in the returns discon- 
tinued the business. The plant is in excellent condition 
and repair and will probably be utilized at an early day for 
some profitable purpose. 

During" the operation of the automobile works IGO 
men, mostly mechanics were regularly emplo}-ed. 

PITTSBURGH SAFE COAIPAXY. 

On the 4th day of December, 1002, this company was 
incorporated under Pennsylvania laws with a capital stock 
of $1,000.00. 

x\n organization was efl^ected May 20th. l!*o;5. when 
George J. H. Goehler was elected president; iM-ed L. Xor- 
ton, secretary, and Adolph B. Goehler, treasurer. These 
gentlemen also constituted the board of directors. 

x\t a special meeting of the stockholders held July 22nd. 
1903, it was voted to increase the capital stock tt) $ I ■")(•, - 
000.00. On July 31st following, new by-laws were adoi)te(l 
increasing the number of directors to seven. J. A. DeW'itt. 
Joseph McConnell, B. T. Sherrick and J. D. Madigan were 
elected to make up the numlier required and at the same 
meeting Adolph B. Goehler resigned and \\ . II. Ilrown 
was elected treasurer and a director in his ])l;ice. j. I ). 
Madigan was chosen vice jiresident as ihe new h\-la\\> 
make such an officer necessary. 

Ground was ])iu-chased from Joseph Soisson at ."^outli 
Connellsville and a plant erected at once. The factors ha> 
two main buildings ;'>•") feel b\' 2r)(i I'cct each, with a court 
hft\- feet wide between them. These buildings arr ji>inrd 




PLANT OF THE PITTSBURGH SAFE COMPANY 



522 CENTENNIi\L HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

at one end by a building 40 feet by 50 feet. From one of 
the main buildings a blacksmith shop 30 by 40 feet and a 
cabinet room 40 by 50 feet extend into the court. Alto- 
gether the arrangement makes an excellent shop and a 
pleasant place to work. The company employs, on an aver- 
age ninety-five people at the factory and thirteen in the 
office and as salesmen. 

About ten finished safes are turned out for each work- 
ing day. The business has been steadily increasing and 
the entire output from its jobbing department has been 
sold for the next year, in advance. Shipments have been 
made from this factory to every part of the United States 
as well as to Canada, Mexico and the South American 
states. 

At the last annual meeting J. D. Madigan was elected 
president ; H. T. Cochran, vice president ; Fred L. Norton, 
secretary, and W. H. Brown, treasurer. These gentlemen 
with Kell Long, Joseph McConnell and J. A. DeWitt. con- 
stitute the present board of directors. 

AMERICAN ALUMINUM COATING COMPANY. 

A growing enterprise located at South Connellsville 
is the American Aluminum Coating Company, incor]:)orate(l 
in June, 190(i, with a capital of $200,000.00. 

The president of the company is George J. Humbert ; 
secretary and treasurer, G. W. Delamater, oi Pittsburgli ; 
superintendent, W. C. \^oight. The directors are Cieorge 
W. Delamater, George J. Humbert and Lewis \\'alker. 

The business of the compan\- consists of coating steel 
sheets with aluminum, the product being used for roofing, 
flashing, spouting, and most of the uses to which galvanized 
iron and tin plate are put — aluininuni nol being subject to 
corrosion or rust, it is especialK' desirabk' inv work ex- 
posed to weather or hard wear. Since its introduction to 
the trade there has been a special demand for aluminum 
coated sheets bv automobile manufacttu-crs as it takes a 
much nicer finisli tlian other materials. ha\-ing a smoother 
surface. 



MANUFACTURES 523 



The process is electro-plating on a large scale. The 
steel plates, from 10 guage, down to much thinner sizes, 
in sheets 8G inches wide by 120 inches long, are arranged 
on edge in a properly prepared bath or solution contained 
in tanks on either side of which are the electrodes. The 
aluminum being deposited by the action of the electric cur- 
rent between the electrodes. 

THE CONNELLSVILLE FLINT GLASS COMPANY, 
LIMITED. 

Organized September 15th, 1888, with a capital stock 
of $15,000.00 paid in. which was increased the following 
year to $30,000.00, authorized capital, of which $28,500.00 
was paid in. 

The officers and managers were as follows: B. F. 
Boyts, president; J. C. Kurtz, secretary and treasurer; J. 
M. Reid, Joseph Soisson. Worth Kilpatrick and John F. 
Soisson. 

A list of the stockholders follows : 

B. F. Boyts 20 shares 

Charles Davidson 20 

E. Dunn 10 " 

John D. Frisbee 10 " 

A. J. Johnston 10 " 

J. M. 'Kurtz 5 

Worth Kilpatrick 20 

J. C. Kurtz 20 " 

Kell Long 20 

J. C. Munson 10 

J. T. McCormick 20 " 

G. W. Newcomer 20 

J. M. Reid 20 " 

J. F. Soisson 20 

Peter Soisson 10 

J. J. Singer 20 " 

Joseph Soisson 20 " 

J. A. Zimmerman 10 " 



Total .- 285 shar 



es 



524 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELESNTLI.E 

The company purchased ground near the Davidson 
Coke Works — about the present location of the Pittsburo^h 
Art Stone Company and erected a four pot plant for the 
manufacture of table ware, colored and plain lamp shades, 
vases, etc. 

The enterprise started with every indication of suc- 
cess, but it soon developed that the practical men upon 
whom the management must depend could not agree among" 
themselves, and soon bickerings and quarrels sprung- up. 
making" frequent changes necessary and resulting" finally 
in the dissolution of the company. 

The business was continued for several years and 
finally dissolved about September 11, ISOli. 

BREWERIES. 

The first brewerv of Connellsville was located near the 
present site of the Frisbee store. The water was piped from 
the large spring on East Main street in wooden conduits 
some of which were dug" up only a few years ago, when 
workmen were excavating for a sewer. The time of oper- 
ating this brewery cannot be definitely ascertained but it 
was early in the nineteenth century. 

Christian Snyder and David Welsh erected a brewery 
about 18T0 on IMountain allex* at the northeast corner of 
Apple street. It was a three-story building, the first story 
being built of hammer-dressed stone and the second and 
third stories frame. 

The firsr story is still ^^tanding". having been incorpor- 
ated into the tenement house which (X'cui:)ied the site of 
the old brewerv until purchased and C(»n\eric(l into ihe 
distilling" house of the Connellsville Distilling" C"omi)any. 

Ale was the onlv product of this establishment and 
thev made about "i.ooo barrels a year. L'suall\ two "brews" 
a week were made of about twenty barrels each. The 
water was taken from the "jane Smith .S])ring"" in ihe i>l(l 
stone quarry. ( )nl\- malt and hops were used— the ainl)i- 
tion of Mr. Sn\(ler l)eing to ha\'e his product ahsohurlx 



MANUFACTURES 



pure and he would agree to no substitutes or adulterations. 
The process was very simple : The malt was put in a large 
copper kettle resting over a furnace on the first floor and 
extending through to the second story where it was filled 
from a platform. After being boiled the malt was drawn 
off into a mash tub where it was stirred with long sticks 
and allowed to settle. When it had sufficiently cleared it 
was again drawn ofif into a smaller tub, allowed to settle 
and then pumped back into the kettle. 

The hops were now added and the fires started once 
more under the kettle. After this mixture had been prop- 
erly boiled it was drawn off into a tub called a "tun" when 
the yeast was added and after being fermented there it 
was put in barrels called puncheons. The bungs were left 
out of these barrels and the contents allowed to ferment 
again — through the bung-holes. The beer was cooled by 
running it over copper tubes filled with cold water — the 
cooling room was a wooden trough about six inches deep 
and twenty-five to thirty feet square — holding about twenty 
barrels. 

The ale was stored until properly aged in cellars or 
caves about thirty feet under ground and reached by a 
series of sub-cellars, back of the brewery — insuring an 
even temperature and the final cave being cold storage. 

The plant never paid ^lessrs. Snyder and Welsh — 
some say the product was "too good." In 1877 it was 
destroyed by fire. 

PITTSBURGH BREWIXG. COMPANY. 

About October 1st, 1890, Rockwell Marietta and Mar- 
cus Marietta began the erection of a brewery at the corner 
of Pulaski and Eighth streets. The building was com- 
pleted the following year, and the first beer made in Octo- 
ber, 1891. In the meantime they had organized the 

CONNELLSVILLE BREWING COMPANY. 

A co-partnership composed of Marcus and Rockwell 
Marietta, ]. D. ]\Iadigan and Peter Soisson. 



526 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Rockwell Marietta was superintendent and manager. 
The sales for the first year averaged 500 barrels per month. 

In ISyJ: Marcus IMarietta sold his interest to S. E. 
Frock and Cyrus Echard and Mr. Frock was made super- 
intendent and manager. Shortly thereafter Peter Soisson 
died and his interest passed to his sons. W'm. H., and 
Augustus D. Soisson. 

During the spring of 1898 a consolidation of the more 
important breweries of Pittsburgh and vicinity was effected 
under the name of the Pittsburgh Brewing Company. Ne- 
gotiations were at once started for the purchase of the 
plant and business of- the Connellsville Brewing Company, 
which was accomplished in December, 1808. Joseph D. 
JMadigan of the old campany was retained as superinten- 
dent, and has held the position ever since, in addition he 
has been made a district superintendent with headquarters 
at Connellsville. 

The business has grown steadily, until at the present 
time the sales average 3,000 barrels per month. The old 
German process of manufacture has been maintained — the 
management having never adopted the new carbonating pro- 
cess, believing the old method to be better. The plant cov- 
ering an acre of ground employs fifty men and fifteen teams. 
It is equipped in the most modern way and is now abantl- 
oning steam for electric power. It has four boilers of 80 
horse power each, two ice machines with a capacity of 
110 tons a day and storage for over 5,0i)0 barrels of l^eer. 

WHITE ROCK DISTILLING CO^IIWNY. 

In 1894 ]\Iark Gemas bought a large piece of ground 
near the Yough Brewing Company on South .\rcli street 
and contiguous to the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. On this 
he erected a modern distillery with an annual (luli)ul of 
1,300 barrels. It was called the Gemas l)islilk'r\- and was 
sold about 1S9S to W. C. Reynolds, who ran the business 
till 1900. In this latter \ear S. K. Reed, Lewis W. Ree.l. 
J. L. and |. C. .Martin entered into a ])artnershi]) under the 



MANUFACTURES 527 



name of the White Rock Distilhng Company, and bought 
Reynolds out. 

The distihery had increased its capacity to about 2,000 
barrels per annum and was producing close to that amount. 

On June 2nd, 1902, the company was incorporated 
under Pennsylvania laws with a capital of $50,000.00, tak- 
ing the name of the White Rock Distilling Company, with 
the following officers, who were also the directors of the 
company : President, J. I. Martin ; vice president, J- C. 
Alartin ; secretary, Lewis W. Reed ; treasurer and superin- 
tendent, S. K. Reed. 

During 1904 the old Zachariah Connell homestead, at 
the corner of Fairview avenue and Arch street was pur- 
chased, and a new plant erected thereon, which was com- 
pleted and occupied October 18th, 1904. This plot contains 
66 feet by 165 feet and the company built three brick build- 
ings, consisting of a distillery four stories in height, a four- 
story ware-house and a two-story salesroom and office. The 
equipment is modern in every respect — the latest and most 
approved methods of manufacture being emploved. The 
present output is about 2,000 barrels a year. 

S. K., and L. AA\ Reed bought the interests of J. I., 
and J- C. ]\Iartin in April, 1905 ; later Lewis AV. Reed 
died and the officers and directors of the company are now : 
L. Guy Reed, president ; S. K. Reed, vice president and 
treasurer ; Anton Pollak. secretarv. 

CONNELLSVILLE DISTILLING COMPANY. 

This company was organized in February, 1902, and 
incorporated under Pennsylvania laws March 4th, 1902. 
Clair Stillwagon was president ; George B. Snvder, sec- 
retary, and Marcus Marietta, treasurer. These three were 
also the directors of the company. 

The distillery was erected on the site of the old Snyder 
brewery. The first story of the present building being 
that of the original brewery. The old power house of 
the Electric Company on Grape alley has since been pur- 



528 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

chased from the West Penu Railways Company and is now 
nsed as a warehouse bv the DistiUing' Company. The out- 
put of the plant at the present time amounts to over 500 
barrels of whiskey per year. 

There have been several changes in the personnel of 
the officers of the company, who at present are: Larimer 
Stillwagon, president ; George B. Sn}-der, secretary and 
treasurer. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 

The history of the Centennial celebration is unique in 
the annals of Connellsville. Nothing like it was ever held 
before and it will likely be many years before anything sim- 
ilar is attempted. ( /)nly those directly connected with the 
great event can realize the vast amount of work entailed 
in getting matters in proper shape. It must be remembered 
that the men who conceived the Centennial were amateurs, 
as it were, and the wonder of it all is not that they did not 
do better, but that they did so well. 

The celebration was held on August 14, 15, 16 and li, 
in the year of our Lord, 1906. Those four days mark the 
greatest event in the history of Connellsville, and while 
not as lasting as the coke which has made Connellsville's 
name famous, they will long be remembered by her citi- 
zens. All historic paths in Connellsville lead to the great 
Centennial. 

It is doubtful if any one man is entitled to the credit 
of originating the idea of a Centennial celebration. It 
was one of those spontaneous movements which occur in 
the historv of every town. This chronicle of the events 
which took place pertains entirely to facts. The story is 
written of the events which occurred. 

The idea originated, it is believed, sometime in the 
fall of 1905, It rapidly took on a tangible form, as the 
idea of a big celebration in honor of the town's one hun- 
dredth anniversary appealed to the patriotism .oi every citi- 
zen. The first meeting to consider the matter was held 
January 9, 1906, and others followed until all details were 
completed. These meetings were usually enthusiastic, but 
there were times when General Apathy had control. The 
selection of a date proved a difficult proposition, but the 

529 













W^" '^9^ 









^*f^' 












if.:.-«^ 



THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 531 

above named ones were finally decided upon as being most 
satisfactory to all concerned. 

A Centennial Association was formed with the fol- 
lowing officers : President, Rockwell Marietta ; first vice 
president, E. Dunn ; second vice presidents, John D. Fris- 
bee. Worth Kilpatrick, Joseph Soisson, F. E. Markell, L. 
F. Ruth and Kell Long : recording secretary. W. D. ]\Ic- 
Ginnis ; corresponding secretary, R. S. Coll, and treasurer, 
L \A\ Rutter. The great burden of the -.vork, however, 
fell on the executive committee, composed of Chairman 
Clair Stillwagon ; secretary, Josiah B. Kurtz ; assistant sec- 
retary, W. F. Brooks ; C. M. Hyatt, P. S. Newmyer, Frank 
R. Bradford, Charles Davidson, John D. Sherrick, J. D. 
Madigan, P. J. Harrigan, 0. Marietta, Robert Felty, R. D. 
North, John Dean, A. D. Soisson, George B. Brown, Harry 
Dunn, L Aaron, Col. J. M. Reid, E. C. Higbee, B. F. 
Boyts, Robert Norris, R. A. Doerner, William AlcCormick, 
John Irwin, George Porter and H. P. Snyder. Numerous 
other committees attending to various details of the work 
worked in conjunction with the executive committee. 

For many weeks these various committees worked to- 
gether, formulating plans for the celebration. Few of 
those interested realized the amount of work the project 
entailed until they came face to face with it. In spite of 
this, wdien the morning of Tuesday, August 14, dawned, 
it found everything in readiness. The town was beauti- 
ful in her holiday garb. Every business house was be- 
decked with bunting and flags, together with many resi- 
dences. The streets were beautified by large white arches, 
bright with flags by day and brilliant with electric lights 
by night. At the corner of Main and Pittsburgh streets, 
the business center of Connellsville, was erected the mon- 
ster coal and coke arch of the H. C. Frick Coke Company. 
This was the feature display of the occasion, it being some- 
thing entirely original and unique. It was built under the 
direction of three Frick superintendents, P. J. Tormay, 
of Trotter, C. B. Franks, of Leisenring, No. 1, and R. C. 



0'S2 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Beerbower, of Davidson. Chief Electrician W. W. Iforner 
arranged the ().")7 incandescent lights. The coal and coke 
used in its construction was picked from the mines and 
yards of the three plants named. Most of the coke was 
of the regulation 7 "3 hour foundry variety, although some 
was burned longer especially for this ])urpose. Idie arch 
cost more than one thousand dollars. 

An information booth was established near the arch, 
convenient to all points. Here were stationed two young 
men whose duty it was to direct strangers. The bureau was 
of great value to visitors at all times during the celebra- 
tion. The visiting newspaper men were well taken care 
of by the press committee, a room in the Smith House 
having been equipped with typewriters and other necessi- 
ties of a reporter. Stafif correspondents of the Pittsburgh 
pa])ers who attended found the quarters a great conven- 
ience, as did the local scribes. Ample police protection 
was provided, but the crowds proved exceptionallv orderly. 
Arrests were comparatively few and most of the charges 
were of a trivial nature. The regular force was augmented 
by the addition of several special men. The West Penn 
Railways Company also had its full force of special offi- 
cers on cars at all times while detectives from Pittsburgh 
kept a watch for crooks and pickpockets. 

The mammoth coal and coke arch erected on Brim- 
stone corner by the H. C. Frick Coke Company was not 
the only feature display of the celebration. The Ualtimcn-c 
& Ohio railroad, a big factor in the town's i)usiness afifairs, 
went to considerable expense and had the largest engine 
in the L^nited States placed on display during the four da\s. 
This was the Xo. '^400 oi the Mallet ty])e, heller known ])\ 
railroad men and the ])ublic generally as "( )ld Maude." 
This engine was (^le of the feature exhi])ils ^li the railroads 
at the St. Louis Expcxsition. ll is real!\- l\\o engines in 
one and is used on the Connells\-ille dixision ol llie road as 
a hel])er between Rockwood and .Sand ralcli. The (.'iigine 
was suilahl}- decoratecl and ri'sle(l on a siding neai" the depol 




thp: h. c. frick com, and coke arch 



534 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

during" the time it was on displa}'. On the same track with 
this powerful engine was placed one of the old time loco- 
motives of the company, showing the wonderful improve- 
ments made in motive power. 

Another interesting feature was the Museum, presided 
over by the ladies of the Museum committee. This exhibit 
was located in the old Pennsylvania railroad station on 
Pittsburgh street, and relics of all kinds belonging to pion- 
eer families of the town were displa3'ed. The museum was 
kept open all day, during which time it was visited by 
thousands of people. 

The grave of Zachariah Connell, the founder of Con- 
nellsville, was not forgotten and, after being neglected for 
almost a century, the family burying ground of the Connell 
family, to the north of town, was purged of weeds and 
rubbish, a neat, substantial fence erected around it, and a. 
tombstone placed over the grave. 

Tuesday morning, August 14, brought with it ideal 
weather. Promptly at seven o'clock hundreds of whistles 
and bells pealed forth their summons, announcing the open- 
ing of the great event. Each succeeding morning this prac- 
tice was followed. Every train and street car entering 
Connellsville was crowded with visitors to town, many of 
whom were returning" for the first time after years of ab- 
sence. It was literally "home coming week" for Connells- 
ville. The first event began at 10 o'clock, when the crowds 
gathered on South Pittsburgh street to hear the address 
of welcome by Burgess A. D. Soisson and the o])ening" 
speech by Judge Edmund H. Reppert of Unlonrown. Im-imii 
a mammoth platform liuilt (in the high school grounds a 
grand chorus of several hundred school children, led by 
Professor A. B. Morton and accompanied 1)\ the Ci^nnells- 
ville Military Band, formed a living American llag and sang 
patriotic songs. J. 'SI. Lytle. Esq., one of the oldest li\ing" 
residents of Connellsville, presided on the speaker's stand, 
erected on the street between the hio-h school and library. 



.■);!() CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 

Rev. William A. Edie. delivered the invoLciLion. thanking 
the Divine Creator for the blessings he had showered on 
the commnnity and praying for a continuance of the same. 
Burgess Soisson was then introduced and delivered the 
following address of welcome : 

ADDRESS OF BURGESS A. D. SOISSON. 

^Nlr. President and Fellow Citizens, Honored Guests, l.adics 
and Gentlemen: 

We are assembled today to celebrate witb fitting ceremonies 
and observances tlie one hundredth anniversary of the incorpo- 
ration of our town. To trace its growth and development and 
narrate its early history is not my duty or purpose. Rather 
it is for me to open these memorial exercises with a word or 
two of kindly welcome to the manj^ strangers within our gales 
who have accepted our invitation to assist on this gala day. 

It is with pardona1)le pleasure and justifiable pride that we 
meet on this occasion and enter upon the ensuing festivities. 
One hundred .years is a landmark in this country. The national 
life of the United States numbers but one hundred and twenty- 
five years, so that the borough life of our town is almost co- 
extensi.ve with the national life of the United States. If, how- 
ever, we could point to nothing but tlie lapse of time, our boast 
would be idle, l~)ut fortunately for us we are not left in sucli 
plight. Through various and changing vicissitudes we have ever 
gained and grown. Though our advancement has ne\er been 
irregular and spasmodic, it has ever been constant and normal. 
From a small hamlet clustered in the forest on tlie hill by the 
river's side, we have grown to a hustling business city, known 
throitghout the world wherever the iron horse has carried the 
light of civilization. 

To our guests and visitors I tender the hospitalit\' of our 
people. To the former citizens and residents returned to ihe 
scenes of early life I extend a cordial greeting. One and all I 
bid you welcome to our city, and hope thai our meeting together 
shall be for good, and that at the close of this celebration we 
may one and all, host and guest, feel that it is a ])leasure to 
have been here. 

At the close of this ])leasiiig iiivilalioii from the lUirgess, 

Squire L\tle introduced the s])eakci" of llie (Taw judge l'"d- 

mtmd II. keijpert of I'uionlowii. |udm' keiiijcrt was given 



THE CENTENNIAL CEI-K1!KATI0N 



a rousing- welcome and proceeded, in a loud, clear voice, 
to deliver one of the finest addresses ever heard here. 

ADDRESS OF JUDGE E. H. RErPEKf. 

On the Jirst day of iVIarch, ]80(), the General Assembly of 
Pennsylvania passed an act which provided and declared that 
the town of Connellsville and vicinity in Fayette count}' shall 
be and the same is hereby erected into a borough which shall 
be called the "Borough of Connellsville." We have met licre 
to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the day, a day that 
marked an event wliich in a large measure affected the develop- 
ment of the natural resources of our country, determined its 
industries and moulded the character of its people. 

Small the borough was in population, for the names of its 
voters numbered but 32, but in courage and self-reliance and in 
a firm faith in their future, these few were a host. They were 
a part of the might}' army of pioneers who opened the way for 
the march of the nations across the continent. On that list are 
names familiar to those of the present day — Barnes, Banning. 
Barnhart and Blackstone, Connell and Colestock, Evans. Mor- 
row, Page. Snyder, Trevor and others. Among them also is 
the name of Cornelius Woodruff, who kept a tavern. With what 
unction could he exclaim, were he here today, after listening to 
the story of the century's progress, "1 told j'ou so," for on the 
ffy-leaf of one of his books was written this prophecy in his own 
handwriting: 

"For those who will come after us will find vast and unde- 
veloped mines of material for men to work upon, treasures of 
untold wealth that are now hid from us. All must have ob- 
served that the progress of the arts and sciences and the gospel, 
like the sun, is from the east to the west. As the celestial light 
of the gospel was directed here by the finger of God, it will 
doubtless drive the heathenness from our land and, marching- 
through the vast deserts now westward, will develop the hidden 
g-ems and stores of gold and silver. Huge mountains and mines 
of these ores will be discovered. It will give employment to 
millions, not only for war, but for peaceful occupations and the 
wants of life. These vast quarries will give work for the 
mechanic to build monuments for the renowned of America, 
those heroes who gave up their warm blood to save this land 
for the coming millions. Some great inventions will be made 
to carrj' on commerce and communication in this to-be-great 
country." 

Marvelous it seems that in a little log tavern in Connells- 



538 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



ville 100 years ago should have been foretold the untold riches 
of the gold and silver mines of the Pacific coast, the far greater 
riches of the coal mines of Fayette county and western Penn- 
sylvania and the vast system of transportation by land and sea 
developed and made possible by inventions in the application 
of steam power and electricity to navigation and railways. Even 
in that day the town gave evidence of the energy and enterprise 
that have always distinguished its people. Among its early in- 
dustries were boat building, milling, the manufacture of agri- 
cultural implements, pottery and cloth, iron works and the 
manufacture of pig iron into the finished product, such as rails,, 
castings, etc., and these industries flourished until local condi- 
tions and development diverted commercial activity into more 
profitable channels. 

With characteristic foresight the people of this communit}' 
early perceived the great value of railway facilities. While 
prominent and influential men in other sections of this country 
were successfully opposing the location and construction of the 
main line of the Baltimore & Ohio through our territory, moved 
by the short-sighted belief that the National road was better 
adapted to promote the public welfare than railroads and that 
the proposed railroad would ruin the National road and the 
people of the county, the citizens of Connellsville took a far 
broader and more comprehensive view. It was largely through 
their efforts that the Pittsburgh & Connellsville railroad, ex- 
tending from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, and the first to enter 
Fayette county, was built. It is at least certain that it would 
not have been built and opened at that time, IS.")."), from Pitts- 
burgh to Connellsville, had it not been for their aid and encour- 
agement. Results have amply justified their faith in it, and 
today the railroad facilities of Connellsville surpass those of 
any other borough of the county, and Connellsville is the only 
town in the county enjoying a main line service to the large 
cities of the country. If General Henry W. Beeson were living 
today, saying with no disrespect to his memory, there is poetic 
justice in the fact that he would have to come to Connellsville 
to take a train from a point in Fayette county for Washington, 
Baltimore, New York, Chicago or St. Louis; whereas but \ov 
the opposition of himself and his associates, he might lake all 
drains on the main line east and west at his own door. The 
Baltimore & Ohio had to build their line through X'irginia in 
order to reach the Ohio river, but that did not s.ave the National 
road. Its commerce and its glory departed and the far greater 
prosperity which the railroad would have brought to tJie county 
seat went elsewhere. We congratulate Connellsxille tliat. with 




CENTENNIAI. DECORATIONS 



540 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSNTLLE 

better judgment, slic secured a portion of it. and linu- lia> 
proved that the foresight of the old Connellsvilie taxern keeper 
was better than the hindsight of hiter generations. 

Men who have barely reached middle life can remeniher 
when the industries of Fayette count}- were almost e.\clusi\ei\' 
those of an agricultural communit}'. 

Our great natural resources were unutilized, their immense 
value was generally not even comprehended. It was the persist- 
ence and enterprise of the men of Connellsvilie and it> \icinit\- 
that proved to the iron trade and to our own people that out of 
the coal within our borders could be produced the best fuel for 
smelting and foundry purposes ever discovered. Con\incin,^ 
support for this assertion may be found in the fact that to tln> 
fuel is given the name of Connellsvilie coke, and the coal iroin 
which it is manufactured is mined froni a basin known a> tlie' 
Connellsvilie Coal Basin. Our friends of The Courier and the 
News Standard ma}" argue as to whether Connellsvilie or Union- 
town is the center of the coke region; but there is no denying 
the fact that if the seller, in describing the property to be con- 
veyed, can truly write into his deed the magic words, "'All the 
nine foot or Connellsvilie vein of coking coal," the price he will 
receive per acre will be increased by hundreds, possibly ))}• thou- 
sands of dollars. Tlie limit of value for an acre of genuine Con- 
nellsvilie coking coal has not yet been reached nor ascertained, 
although young men who have scarcely attained their majority 
have seen it increase in some instances from $.j() or less to $;!,()00. 

While coke had been made in Fayette county as early as 
]817', j'^et it was not until in the seventies that its manufacture 
became a recognized branch of industrial enterprise. Thirty 
years ago there were but 3,000 ovens in the entire region: tiiere 
are now 32,000. Of this number nearly 24,000 are in Fayette 
county. Last year's production reached nearly 18.000.000 tons. 
The average price per ton was $2.26. This year's production 
will reach and probably exceed 19,000,000 tons, and the average 
price per ton will equal if not exceed $2..i0. It is diHicult to 
appreciate these stupendous figures. To transport ibis enor- 
mous production will require 430,000 cars. If these were joined 
together in one continuous train it would more than reacli 
across the continent and back. Tlie value of the train load 
would l)e $47, 000, 000, and would re(|nire ;i string of doll;ir l)ill> 
])laced end to end as long as the train tn \);\y for it. 

We are justly jiroud of what oui" i>eo]>le have done on the 
farm, in the factor}- and the mine. Thi-\' ba\e been full'iiling 
\hc (li\ine ei inimission gi\x-n to ilu' >(in> of nu-n al tile dawn of 



THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 511 



creation to go forth and subdue the earth and have dominion 
over every living thing that moveth therein. The Crusader is 
a romantic figure in song and story, but Zachariah Connell. the 
pioneer at Stewrart's Crossing, far surpassed him in intelligent 
comprehension of God's will. Were material prosperity the 
highest good, we might justly claim to have fulfilled our destiny. 
But the products of the soil, the mine and the manufactory are 
blessings only as they serve to develop among men a higher and 
better life and a higher and better citizenship; to banish ignor- 
ance and evil and hardship and suffering; to spread knowledge 
and peace and justice and the gospel of righteousness. The 
development of our natural resources will bring us little advant- 
age unless it helps at the same time to develop that which is 
best in ourselves. The pioneers were mighty men because they 
were possessed of mighty virtues. Their days are illustrious 
because their deeds were illustrious. The times have changed, 
but the qualities that made men great 100 years ago and caused 
their days to be remembered will make men great today. New 
times bring new problems, but they are to be solved as were 
the problems of 100 years ago, with courage and resolution, 
with endiu-ance and supreme confidence. We need now, as 
were needed then, the pioneer virtues of the pioneers, truthful- 
ness, a just regard for the rights of others, self-reliance, fear- 
lessness, self-respect and trust in Almighty God. 

Our marvelous material prosperity need be neither a menace 
nor a danger, as so many fear. It is idle to tell men to quit 
making money. They cannot help it. The man with a genius 
for the inception, management and control of great business 
and industrial enterprises — I mean legitimate, not predatory, 
enterprises— should have a fair held for the development of his 
talent to its full limit, and that not only for his own good, Imt 
for the good of mankind, that thereby life for all may be made 
better and richer and nobler and filled with higher ideals. 

Let us not cry out blindly against the production and accu- 
mulation of wealth, but let us seek to learn how it may be made 
to serve its best and highest purpose. We have not yet reached 
the time when a Rockefeller can be classed with a Shakespeare, 
but the time is rapidly approaching when surpassing commercial 
ability and success must justify itself not only in material but 
also in ethical results. 

TJien and not till tlien may the possessors of such talent 
be classed with the benefactors of mankind in the realms of 
learning, literature, music and art. 

So, teach men not that they must become poorer in order 



542 CENTENNIAI. HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



to attain the hig;hcst good, which was the medieval conceptiDii. 
but that they must become stronger, and that their wealth is 
to be their servant for all good works, and not their master. 
The sky is radiant with the bow of spiritual promise. There 
never was a day when, nor a country where, so great a propor- 
tion of its wealth was seeking investment in religious, educa- 
tional, and philanthropic enterprises as in our own, and your 
borough furnishes splendid evidences of this fact. Your beauti- 
ful churches and Young Men's Christian Association building, 
your school buildings and public library, your Cottage Hospital, 
your streets well paved and sewered and lighted, all attest the 
growing conception and acknowledgment of the duty which 
money owes to the community. 

There never was a time when sin and vice and crime were 
so hideously ugly and repulsive as they are today, and when 
misused wealth and misused talent so surely served to intensify 
their ugliness, and to bring shame and disgrace and punishment 
to their possessors. Think of the poor wretch in the Tombs 
prison, and his life of sinful pleasure and indulgence and his 
million and the mark of Cain! Who would accept his monej- 
with what he has purchased with it even with freedom from the 
law added? And think of his only less wretched victim! How 
sordid the picture! I know it is the fashion for cynics to rail 
that the law is not for the rich and the powerful; that wealth 
and influence purchase immunity from punishment for wrong- 
doing, and the unthinking applaud. But never before was there 
a time when so high a standard of responsibility attached to the 
administration of wealth and power, whether corporate, indi- 
vidual or official. The laws are enforced, offenders, high as well 
as low, are punished, wrong-doing is restrained and prevented. 
The efifort to secure by more perfect legislation the protection 
of private and public rights and the prevention of private and 
public wrongs, is constant and effective. In a western state in 
a prison cell lies a former United States Senator whose lofty 
official position did not protect him from just punishment for 
official misconduct. In another state only death saved a col- 
league from a like fate. In a southern state last .\pril the con- 
viction of Gaynor and Greene was a striking reply to tlmse who 
mock justice and believe that rich rascals go free. These men 
are said to have spent two million dollars in endeavoring to 
avoid a trial on a charge of conspiracy to defraud. iUit flight 
and lavish expenditure and the ingenious expedients of the 
ablest lawyers availed them not. That they were liiL-iUy hniuglu 
back and after a fair trial by judge .-ind jui"_\' were (lu]\- enmieled 




TYPICAI. CENTENNIAL CROWDS 



54:4: CENTENNIAL HISTORV OF CON NELLSVILI.E 

and sentenced to four years' imprisonment and lines of over 
half a million each, is a monument to the efficieiic}- of the law 
and to its honest and efficient administration; and illustration 
after illustration might be added. 

So, in comparing the days and deeds of the pioneers with 
those of our own, let us take hope and be of good cheer. Evil 
there is, but there is more of good; and the evil will decrease 
while the good will increase; the evil will grow less powerful and 
the good more powerful, for such is the will of Almighty God. 
And in the struggle for a higher conception of the duties and 
obligations of citizenship, let us emulate the virtues of the pio- 
neers whose deeds we here commemorate, to the end that we 
may make this fair land of ours, this proud Keystone of the 
arch of free commonwealths, this industrial garden spot of Fa^'- 
ette county, the finest and best for home and humanity upon 
which the sun shines. 

This practically entled the morniiii^'s program. In the 
afternoon a reunion was held at the Carnegie h'ree Library, 
wliere many of the old timers gathered to renew friend- 
ships of bygone years and exchange remmiscences. An 
atttomobile parade was held, abotit one lumdred cars being 
in line, gorgeously decorated. The first ])rize was awarded 
to Harry Marietta. After the parade the old people were 
escorted over town in the machines, many of them taking 
their first and last automobile ride. 

Among those who took the trip over town were S(|tiire 
James M. Lytle, one of the oldest residents of CDnnellsville, 
who is SG years old; John G. White, ^(> years old; II. L. 
Regar, the last surviving veteran of the ^^lexican War. 
who enlisted from Connellsville. iS years old; ( "i. L. Coug- 
nanour. ?9 years old; James ^\. Stephenson, (i;! years old; 
John Long, 90 years old; Samuel X. Long. S.") ; William V>. 
Weihe, 84 ; .William ^L Hatfield, SO; Thomas (Ircgg, (Hi; 
P. J. Keslar. (i!) ; J. 1). Murray, U\ : Christian Shank. OL 
the oldest living resident in Connellsville; Williain Kemj). 
William Beall. Mr. and Mrs. John Shaw. .Mrs. S. I".. Cul- 
ver, A. B. Morton. John Helms, j. S. Sisley. b>hn Cluimble)-. 
Leslie Ciilmore. S(|turc \. ."^trawn .Mur])Ii\. .Mrs. Margaret 
McCov. Mrs. Sara Shaw and .Mrs. .\hirtlia l\ell\. 



THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 5i5 



In the evening the Hghts were turned on for the first 
time, making the streets as bright as day. The big coke 
arch was a perfect maize of incandescents, while the Hghts 
on the arches and bnikUngs formed an unnsnally pretty 
scene. The electric display was one of the finest ever seen 
in western Pennsylvania. The visiting bands consolidated 
and rendered a pleasing program from the Library grounds, 
while the Midway and carnival attractions kept the visitors 
entertained. The local hotels were unable to cope with 
the situation, and many people had to gu to Uniontown 
and Scottdale for a night's lodging. This was true of 
each night of the Centennial. 

In one respect the Connellsville Centennial was un- 
usual. While the entire four days were big ones, two were 
especiallv large. Wednesday and Thursday were the gala 
occasions, the Centennial Association handling the first and 
the Merchants' Association the second. There was much 
rivalry between the two organizations, but for the most 
part it was good natured. The big parade of the Centen- 
nial was held on Wednesday. After the children's chorus 
and band concert at the Library grounds in the morning, 
the parade was started. The formation of the line was no 
easy matter, for it was more than a mile long. For ama- 
teurs, however, the men in charge performed excellent 
work. The parade formed on the South Side, nearly every 
street of that thoroughfare being taken up with some part 
of the display. The feature of the parade was the one 
hundred horse team of the H. C. Frick Coke Company. 
One hundred of the best animals taken from the nearby 
works of the company, with a man in uniform of blue 
overalls astride each horse, were hitched to one of the big 
wagons from the Davidson works. The superintendents of 
the works represented acted as marshals for this section of 
the parade and guided the team through the narrow streets 
of town. It was a difficult matter to turn some of the sharp 
curves, especially at Brimstone Corner, where the big arch 
narrowed the street to a considerable extent. 



54G CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNEr.LSVTLLE 



Hours before it was time to start, people began to 
gather along the line of parade, seeking points of vantage, 
and once located, they refused to move. V>y the time the 
line did start, a dense, packed mob of good-natured human- 
ity was banked along the curbs for miles, while ever}- win- 
dow along the line was occupied by several spectators. 
About Brimstone Corner the crowds were especially large, 
being dozens deep in some places. The town had never 
before witnessed such a collection of people. There were 
thousands present, drawn from every city, town and hamlet 
within a radius of fifty miles. The police had a difficult 
time keeping the streets clear, and at times the crowds 
got the best of the officers and completely blocked 
the thoroughfares. In spite of the vast numbers and 
unusual excitement, the crowd was orderly. Drunken 
people were comparatively scarce, and those who became 
intoxicated were taken in hand by the officers, escorted to 
the borough lockup and kept there until sufficiently solder 
to depart. The parade was guided over the route b_\- 
Captain John L. Cans and R. A. Doerner. 

The following order was observed in the parade : 

Mounted officers. 

Connellsville Military Band. 

Second Ward Volunteer Fire Departrnc-n:, headed b_\ 
Fire Marshal W. H. Marietta and Frank Fa}ne, mascot of 
the Volunteer department, on horseback. 

South Side Volunteer Fire Departme-rit. 

Hose wagon and firemen. 

Carriages. 

Price Consolidated Band of I'niontown. 

First Battalion. 10th Regiment, Xational (luard, 
''-■-, i 1;y ]\iajor Rich.nrd Coulter, jr., and aide. The com- 
panies marched in the following order: ComjianN D of 
Connellsville, Com])an_\- C" of L'niontowu, C(im])an\ !■'. of Ml. 
Pleasant, Compan}- I of Grecnsburg, and the Imspilal cnrjis. 

Dunbar I'and. 




SCENES OF THE PARADE 



548 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



Boys' Brigade, with companies from Connellsville, 
Uniontown and Dawson represented. 

Modern Woodmen of America, with itecorated float 
and several members in Hne. 

Worthing Camp, Royal Neighbors oT America, float 
from Dawson. 

Independent Order of Red Men, members dressed in 
grotesque costumes. 

Royal Italian Band of Bellevernon. 

Italian society, over 200 strong, each man carrying an 
American flag. 

"Rube Band" from West Newton. 

Two Slavish societies, 500 men strong. 

Floats of Yough Brewing Company. 

Uniontown Martial Band. 

Float of Lang Coal & Sand Company, followed by 
float of Soisson Fire Brick Company, men making brick 
on the wagon. 

Float of A. Stickel, lumber dealer of Mill Run. 

Comrade J. J. Barnhart of Dunbar township with 
wagon and men at work with cradle in imitation wheat 
rield. 

Five wagons of Pittsburgh Brewing Company. 

Wagon of White Rock Distilling Company. 

Two floats of Zepp & Rutsek, plumbers and tinners. 

Tom Brierly and Jim Wilson driving in buggy dressed 
ui grotesque costumes. 

Wagons of S. B. White and Geisler Brothers. 

Float of local blacksmiths, with J. .\. Cunningham, 
Clark Cunningham, Charles Balsley, Fred Paes and T Tarry 
Hayes making horseshoes and tossing them to tlie crowd. 

Two wagons of Sligo Iron & Steel Conijiany, willi cold 
roll and sheets. 

Carriages. 

Rice Shaw's Martial lUuid. 

Foreicrn societv of some 50 members. 



THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 549 



Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, about 50 mem- 
bers. 

Carriages with Early Settlers, namely, Dave Girard 
and Bill Marqua ; Andy Haas and Jimmie Howard, and 
Bill Shaw and Doc Buttermore. dressed m Colonial cos- 
tumes. 

Symphony Band of Smithton. 

Y. M. C. A. Boys, 175 in number, dressed in white uni- 
forms and carrying canes. 

Carriages Craft ]\Iartial Band, Aides. 
Big one hundred-horse team of the H. C. Frick Coke 
Company, commanded by the different superintendents. 
The team was driven by Norman Prinkey of Davidson 
Works. 

Twenty-horse team from Bullskin township. 
Wagon of A. E. Wagoner and FloUand Piersol and 
their guests. 

Carriages and wagons containing visitors from the 
outlying country districts. 

The parade and its environs beggars description. As 
each person or float appeared the crowds shouted approval. 
Some of the floats were exceedingly ludicrous. Trolley 
service through town was suspended a greater part of the 
morning, it being practically impossible to operate cars 
through the crowds. It is conservativeK estimated that 
25,000 people visited the town on this day. The parade 
started shortly after ten o'clock, but it w^as after one in 
the afternoon before it had complete the long route. There 
was a baseball game in the afternoon, the Uniontown and 
East Liverpool teams in the Pennsylvania, Ohio and Mary- 
land League being the contestants. This game was trans- 
ferred from Liniontown to Connellsville for the day, on 
account of the Centennial. 

In the evening another big meeting was held at the 
Library grounds and the crowd was fully as large as that 
whicli greeted the speakers on the opening day. The 




THK H['MAN l-'I.Ar, 



THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Sol 

speakers' platform was occupied by the most prominent 
citizens of town as well as those who made the addresses. 
The speakers were Ex-Senator George L. Wellington, of 
Cumberland, Md., and General W. H. Koontz, of Somerset, 
Pa. j. y\. Lytle, Esq., ])resided. 

Thursda}-, the third day of the celebration, was "Mer- 
chants" Dav," the prO;2,"ram having been executed entirely 
by the Connellsvilie and New Haven Merchants" Associa- 
tion. Both days had features distinct from each other and 
equallv as pleas in-^-. In the morning the merchants" parade 
was the big event, and, as the H. C. Frick Coke Company 
took such an important part in the Centennial parade, so 
did the Lhiion Supply Compan}-, an allied corporation, fig- 
ure in the merchants" pageant. Every one of the 53 stores 
of this company was represented by a wagon or a float. 
Some of the designs were very unique. The merchants 
themselves were warm rivals for first honors, for on this 
occasion a prize was given for the best float in line. Some 
of the ideas were extremely unique. Models, ancient and 
modern, were adopted, some sedate and some ridiculous. 
Each was a credit to the merchants producing them and to 
the town in general. The following line of parade was 
observed : 

Chief Alarshal E. Dunn and aides. 

Connellsvilie Aliiitary pjand. 

Connellsvilie A'olunteer b'ire Department. 

Hose carriage and paid firemen. 

Thomas L\-nch and partv in carriages. 

Burgess A. D. Scisson, Clair Stillwagon, W. D. Mc- 
Ginnis and William ]\icCormick. 

Members of Town Council. 

Executive Committee of the Merchants" Association. 

Congressman Allen F. Cooper, of L^niontown, and Con- 
gressman Geo. F. Huff, of Greensburg. 

Old business men, among whom were J. D. Frisbee, 
Flenry Goldsmith, P. S. Newmyer, A. B. Morton, Lloyd 
Johnston, J. C. Lytle and A. W. Hood. 




TVPICAI, Fr.OATS Ol- MERCHANTS HAV I'AKADE 



THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 



553 



Carriages. 

Greensbiirg- ^lerchants' Association, led l)y the martial 
band of No. 3 Hose Company. 
Price's Band, of Cniontown. 

Float of Boyts, Porter & Co., with Geo. A. Snyder and 
C. M. Stoner. 

George W. Campbell, of Xormalville. 
Float of The Aaron Company, brightly decorated. 
Float of Sedersky Fnrniture Company. 
Float of the Rosenblnm Furnitnre Company, with John 
G. Leslie, Jacob Greene, H. S. Lohr, John Brunson, John 
Campbell and Joseph May. 

Float of Mace & Company, beautifully decorated. 
Wagon of The Aaron Company. 
Wagon of George \'oscheck, grocer. 
Wagon of Charles F. Shumaker, tinner. 
Float of Xorris & Hooper, occupied by a number of 
young ladies attired in white. 

Wagon of Henry Rhodes, of New Haven. 
Wagon of L. Sapolsky, loaded with a sheep and junk. 
Wagons of E. Dean and Coughenour & Co., pop mer- 
chants. 

Floats of Zepp & Rutsek, representing bath-room and, 
kitchen plumbing, stoves and tinning. 
Wagon of A. E. Wagoner. 
Dairy wagon of William H. Minor. 
Three wagons of Schell Hardware Co., with unique 
designs. 

Floats of Andrew Haas, representing the Haas Hotel 
and Annex. 

Six wagons of E. U. Hetzel, with float. 

Two wagons of W. R. Scott. 

Wagon of J. R. Davidson. 

Wagon of P. ^lay, the South Side grocer. 

Two wagons of J. R. Davidson. 

Two floats of the Tri-State Candy Company. 



554 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CON NELLSVTLLE 

Float of F. T. Evans with the Gold Dust Twins at 
work. 

Wagon of S. B. White. 

Wagon of G. W. Brickman. 

Wagon of J. M. Young. 

Dairy wagon of Geisler Bros. 

Wagon of A. E. Wagoner. 

Wagon of Britt & Scarry, tinners. 

Float of the Trans-Allegheny. 

Wagon of the Lang Sand &. Stone Co., loaded with 
Connellsville coal. 

Float of E. Dunn, handsomely decorated. 

Wagon of Charles W. Keys, the produce man. 

Float of W. N. Leche, with Aliss Maude Rosselle, 3*1 iss 
Mary Kerwin, H. M. Bell and George Reagan. 

Wagon of Kell Long, with milling products. 

Float of the Munson Co. 

Float of the Sligo Iron & Steel Co., with sheets of iron. 

Wagon of the Rush-Moreland Co., of New Haven. 

Float of the Reinhard Music Co., with graphophone 
and musical instruments. 

Wagon of The Aaron Co. 

Wagon of D. Sinclair. 

W^agon of Dull & Co., with buggy. 

Wagon of the Connellsville Distilling Companv. 

W'agon of the People's Reliable ]\Ieat Market. uni(|ue 
in its appointments. 

Wagons of H. FJofFman, lish and produce. 

Carriages. 

Wagon of the Wallace Furniture Co. 

Wagon of the Baltimore House. 

Float of Renner's Bakery. 

Float of L C. Smutz. 

Float of E. G. Hall. 

Wagon of Singer Sewing Machine Ciimpan\-. 




THE OX ROAST 



556 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNEELSNILI.E 

Two wagons of the United States Express Co. 

Wagon of the Anchor Grocery. 

Wagons of Corrado & Basilona and Pallachni & Cor- 
rado. 

The "F. Z." dairy of Frank Zacharias. 

Wagon of D. F. Girard. 

Wagon of the Ward-Mackey Co., distributing Tiger 
biscuits. 

Rutter's Band, of Uniontown. 

Store managers of the Union Supply Company. 

L^nion Supply Company wagons, 5o in all. 

Bellevernon Band. 

Boys' Club of the Y. AI. C. A. 

A. S. Silcox, meat market. 

The Dunbar Band. 

Automobile float of Gorman &: Co. 

Automobile float of Wright-Metzler Co., with Miss 
Beulah Reagan, James Laughrey, Thurston Aloore. Harry 
Sharps, E. W. Bowker and Misses Roberta and Helen 
Louise Felty. 

Automobile of the Douglas Business College. 

A mammoth ox roast, attended by 15,0(10 or more peo- 
ple, was given in the grove on the Hogg Addition, and the 
accompanying photographs illustrate how the crowtls gath- 
ered to participate in the festivities. A fine lunch, free to 
all, was served, the tables covering over an acre of ground. 
Following the lunch, the guests, who, large a body as they 
made, did not seem to diminish the crowds down town tn 
a noticeable extent, spread themselves out in the most c<in- 
venient manner, to hear the speeches, following which came 
the drawing for a free lot. Chairnian !'.. I'. Wallace offici- 
ated at this gathering and delivered an a])proi)riate address, 
in which he extended a hearty welcome to one and all. 
He commented cm the enterprise of the Cnii n .'>upi)ly C"om- 
pany, some of whose wagons tra\-eled all niglu long in 
order to reach Connellsville on time, lie first introihiced 
Secretary James W. Wardroi). of the .Meridian. s' and Mann- 



THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 



557 



factnrers' Association of Pittsburgh, whose address was 
short. The speaker urged closer co-operation and better 
organization on the part of all merchants and business men, 
citing many illustrations on behalf of his argument. 

Congressman Allen F. Cooper, of Uniontown, was the 
next speaker, and his address in part was as follows : 

ADDRESS OF HON. ALLEN F. COOPER. 

It has been frequently said, and I think generally agreed, 
at least in this part of the country, that the conditions existing 
in the iron and coal trade indicate the business conditions of 
the country. If this be true, then we can take just pride in 
what has been accomplished by the people of this community 
along these lines. Fayette county is entitled toa large share 
of the credit for the introduction and growth of the iron and 
steel business in the United States. The first iron and the first 
coke made west of the Allegheny mountains were made in 
Fayette county. The founder of this town, Zachariah Connell, 
was not only a wise and sagacious man, but he was a pioneer 
in the coal business. In his deed of dedication to the public 
and in the recorded plan of the town in 1793, he not only makes 
provision, as he terms it, for the reception and entertainment 
of travelers and the accommodation of such tradesmen and 
others inclining to settle at or near the said place, but he recites 
the fact that there is on the verge of the river an excellent stone 
coal bank from which coal may be conveniently conveyed by 
water along all the front of the town, and being desirous of 
giving all the encouragement and advantages that the nature 
of the case will admit of, consistent with his own interest and 
safety, granted to all the inhabitants of the town, their heirs 
and assigns forever, the free and full privilege of digging and 
removing from said stone coal bank, a quantity of coal neces- 
sary for their own particular use. So from the time the town 
was laid out down to the present, coal has been an article of 
commerce of increasing importance and value. This, to the best 
of my information, is the earliest record of the superior quality 
of the Connellsville vein of coal. In the South, at the time of 
the war, it was said that "Cotton is King." In the West they 
tell us "Corn is King": but here we say that "Coke is King." 
The manufacture of coke in Europe dates back many years, 
but it was not until about 1842 that any serious efifort was made 
in this section to manufacture it in quantity and place it as a 
commodity upon the market. The development and growth of 



odS centennial history of c'oxxi:i.i.s\ti.i.i-: 

the industry was slow for the first 30 or 40 years, hut in the last 
quarter of a centur}' the output has multiplied almost ten times. 
The grand old pioneers of the Connellsville coke business have 
all passed away, but another generation has continued the work 
with marked improvement and success. To two Fayette county 
boys, still living, and whose names are known throughout the' 
industrial world, particular credit is due for great accomplish- 
ments in this held of business activity. Today Connellsville 
coke is the standard, and it and the products manufactured with 
it, are sold around the world. To illustrate: Two years ago 
last January, in the National House of Representatives, I heard 
the Hon. Ebenezer Hill, of Connecticut, a most eminent author- 
ity on finance and trade, make this statement: Said he, "Two 
years ago I stood on the deck of a Japanese liner in the harbor 
of Vladivostok, Siberia. In the hold of the vessel were 700 
tons of American agricultural implements that had come across 
the Pacific ocean from America for the use of peasants of 
Siberia. Right across the harbor was an English tramp ship 
loaded with steel rails from Pennsylvania that had been shipped 
there for the Siberian railroad. That day I went ashore and 
at night in the hotel at Vladivostok I was introduced to a gen- 
tleman who told me he was a representative of the Boldwin 
Locomotive Works, of Philadelphia, who had just finished a 
contract by which he had put into operation l.")0 Baldwin loco- 
motives. The next day I rode .500 miles up the Amur river, over 
American steel rails. The day following I got aboard the 
steamer to go up the Amur river 1,500 miles; it was a steel 
steamer and had in tow two steel barges that were built in Pitts- 
burgh and sent there 12,000 miles. The first night out we wrecked 
one of these barges and the freight had to be unloaded. There 
were all sorts of American products in that cargo of freight. 
Ten thousand miles from here, in the little Siberian village of 
Gorbitza, consisting of a dozen log houses, in a little store not 
over 8x10, we bought packages of candy wrapped up in paper 
on which was printed the picture of William McKinle^^ (cheers') 
to popularize that candy among the peasants of Siberia." 

Continuing, he said that all the way across Asia his journey 
was made safe and pleasant by the Westinghouse airlirake, made 
in Pittsburgh. This incident occurred bfl'iirc llu' l\usso-Japa- 
nese War. That war is fresh in the minds of all. The task of 
shipping the great quantities of supplies and munitions of war 
for thousands of miles and transporting hundreds of thousands 
of soldiers was one of the greatest problems of the war. To 
repair and improve this railway will require tlmusands of tons 
of steel rails whieli will (huibtK-ss ])v made in llii> eimnirx'. and 



THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 559 

Fayette county will furnish the coke (cheers). So you see, the 
products of the mills, shops and factories using our Connells- 
ville coke as a fuel are being sold and used around the globe. 
The people who are employed in and about this great industry 
are closely identified with this communitj^ and form a substan- 
tial part of your society. The farmer finds a ready market for 
all his produce; the banks, stores and business of all kinds in 
the merchandise line, thrive and prosper with the fabulous 
growth of this industry. 

From two ovens, with an output of two boatloads of coke 
of doubtful value in 18-12, the industry has grown to 32,000 
ovens, with a weekly production of the value of almost a million 
dollars. 

The railroads have been overtaxed to transport the product 
and have had to increase their trackage and equipment at tre- 
mendous cost. From a few persons engaged in railroading here 
a few years ago, the force has been increased to the size of a 
small arm}^ 

The merchant and the business man is not only the pre- 
dominating power and influence in the communit}' where he 
lives, but is the controlling factor in the world. The demands 
of trade have reached the four corners of the earth. Railroads 
are building in Alaska, the West Indies and the Philippines. 
Engineers are threading thier way through the interior of Asia, 
Africa and South America. The farthest extremities of North 
and South America are soon to be linked together by a grand 
trunk line railroad at a cost of $150,000,000. Only two or three 
days ago the public announcement was made that another rail- 
road is to be constructed between New York and Chicago, by 
the way of Pittsburgh, at a cost of $1.50,000,000. The Federal 
Government has undertaken to build the Panama canal, the 
greatest engineering feat ever undertaken, at an estimated cost 
of $145,000,000. The recent session of Congress passed an act 
incorporating the Lake Erie and Ohio River Ship Canal Com- 
pany to authorize private capital to construct a waterway be- 
tween the Ohio river and Lake Erie, the cost of wdiich is esti- 
mated at $35,000,000. 

All of these vast undertakings are to facilitate trade. Each 
and all of these will make business for this community. The 
increased use of iron and steel for structural purposes, the 
building of might}^ battleships for our own and other countries, 
and the many other varied and increasing uses for iron and 
steel will continue to make an increasing demand for Connells- 
ville coke. In the general resulting business prosperity, all 
interests in this community will share. With your railroad 
facilities and the river; with the untiring energy, sterling integ- 



560 CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONN KI-LS\ IIJ.E 

rity and public spirit of your citizens, the power and intluence 
of your churches and schools and the excellent newspapers pub- 
lished here, Connellsville is bound to grow and flourish. 

Coiigressmai'i Cooper was followed by George AI. lio- 
sack, Esquire, of Pittsburgh, Pa., a former Connellsville 
boy, who made a ringing address on "Greater Connellsville." 
Attorney Joseph INIoreland, of Alorgantown, W. \'a., 
was the last speaker of the day, and his remarks were purely 
of a reminiscent nature. 

Following the speeches, the drawing for a free lot be- 
gan. Coupons had been given by the merchants to their 
customers. ]\Irs. F. A. Buttermore, of York avenue, was 
fortunate in having her number drawn out of the barrel the 
first time. This ended the festivities in Hogg Grove, and 
crowds dispersed about supper time. 

The evening of Alerchants" Day was spent in the usual 
manner. The bands rendered selections on the Library 
grounds, while the free exhibitions and those that were not 
free were well patronized. The streets were thronged, but 
no more so than on the previous evenings. 

After three strenuous days it is not surprising that tlie 
last day of the big celebration was comparatively quiet. In 
the morning a few impromptu speeches were made at the 
Library grounds. Attorney Hosack made a short address, 
and he was followed by Attorney E. C. Higbee. of Con- 
nellsville. who spoke along educational lines, commenting 
at length on the progress made in Connellsville and the fore- 
sight of Zachariah Conuell in reserving the grountl he did 
for these purposes alone. 

On Friday evening the Centennial came to a close in 
the midst of a blaze of fireworks and a t\pical nn)unlain 
storm. 

Once more the hearts of our citizens are addressetl to 
business and enterjjrise. What has been done but furnishes 
a stimulus to greater deeds. ( )ne hundred years more 
united endeavor will lift our cit\- to a ]:»osition of command- 
ing importance in western Penns\ Kania, and furnisli tlie 
occasion of a greater jubilee. 

Finis. 



Map of Connellsville and Additions 

SCALE. 1 INCH--870 FEET 




INDEX 



561 



INDEX 



PAGE 

American Steel Co 494 

American Telegraph 161 

American Aluminum Coat- 
ing Co 522 

Armory 471 

Art Stone Co 503 

Auntie Hare 31^ 



Banning, Rev. Anthony, 58, 

Banning House 

Bank of John T. Hogg.. .. 

Bank, Yough National 

Bank, First National 

Bank, Second National.... 
Bank, Title & Trust Co... 
Bank, Citizens National... 
Bank, Colonial National... 
Bank, New Haven Nation- 
al 

Baptists 330, 341, 373, 

Baldwin Automobile Co... 

Bakers 

Bash, Gustavus 

Barnes, David 

Bishop, Aaron 

Boat Building 

Borough, Currency 

Borough, Charter 

Borough, Original Plan.... 
Borough, Incorporation . . . 
Borough, First Council... 
Borough, Extension of.... 

Borough, Officers 

Boyts, Porter & Co 

Braddock Campaign 

Breakneck Reservoir 

Breweries 

Brickmaking 

Bridge, Youghiogheny 

Brimstone Corner 108, 



333 
299 
225 
229 
23b 
241 
244 
248 
250 

252 

384 

519 

317 

315 

58 

312 

477 

110 

48 

49 

65 

73 

83 



20 
40?> 
524 
500 
393 
300 



PAGE 

Brown Homestead 311 

Butchers 317 

Cabinetmakers 322 

Campbell, Rev. Alexan- 
der 343, 360 

Carnegie Free Library.... 433 

Carding Mill 509 

Centennial Celebration. .. 5, 529 

" Decorations 539 

" Crowds 543 

" Parades 545 

" Addresses ....536, 537, 557 

" Committees 530 

Chew, Benjamin 46, 54 

Chartered Financial Insti- 
tutions 219 

Churches 327 

Christian Church 344, 360 

Church of God 378 

City Hall, Old and New. 78, 81 

Civil War 196 

Clothiers 315 

Cochran, James 273 

Coke Industry 263 

Coke Arch 531 

Company D 204 

Connell, Zachariah. 41, 333, 393 

Council Cemetery 439 

Connellsville (see Borough) 
" First Lot Owners.... 52 

" Navigation Co 221 

" Planing Mill Co 506 

" Mutual Bldg. & Loan 

Assn 255 

People's Bldg. & Loan 

Assn 256 

" Building & Loan Assn. 259 

" Water Company 407 

" N. H. Gas & Water Co. 412 



562 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVTLLE 



PAGE 

Connellsville N. H. Leisen- 

ring St. Ry Co 420 

" Suburban Street Ry. 

Co 426 

" Machine & Car Co.. .. 491 
" Mfg. & Mine Supply 

Co 497 

" Flint Glass Co 523 

" Construction Co 507 

" Mfg. Co 517 

Cotton Factory 509 

Crawford, Col. William 

28, 171, 329 

Crescent Mfg. Co 517 

Crossland Carriage Wks... 513 

Department Stores 325 

Distilleries 526 

Dunbar, Colonel 21 

Dunbar Furnace Co 482 

Dunmore's War 173 

Dunn, E 319 

Dushane, Capt. J. M...197, 318 

Educational Institutions... 120 

Elections, First 73 

Electric Company 415 

Episcopalian Church ... 329, 380 

Etna Furnace 480 

Fayette Securities Co 254 

" Gas Fuel Co 432 

" Furnace 480 

" Lumber Co 505 

Forbes, General 24, 170 

Foreign Population 341 

Foundries 487 

Fort Duquesne 15 

Fort Necessity 17 

Fort Pitt 24, 171 

Fort Indian 7 

Francis, Dr. James 52 

Frick, H. C 281 

Frisbce, John D 304 

Fulling Mill •. 509 



P.-^GE 

Furniture Business 322 

Gist, Christopher 12, 24,328 

Gibson, John 39, 330, 480 

Grand Army Republic 214 

Gregg, Thomas 41, 484 

Grocers 319 

Hangard 14 

High School 144 

Highland Electro Co 515 

Highland Chemical Pro- 
duct Co 516 

Hood, A. W 300, 320 

Hospital, Cottage State.... 46:^ 

Humbert Tin Plate Co 518 

Hussar Chemical Co 515 

Indian's Forts and Villages 7 
Iron Industry 39, 479 

Jewelers 308 

Johnston, Alexander ... 300, 353 
Jumonville 15 

Keystone Planing Mill Co. 508 
Kurtz, Josiali 324 

Longabaugh, Bud 9 

Lochry's Expedition 179 

Lutherans 333, 365, 369,372 

Lynch, Thomas 281 

Lytle, William 298, 312 

Mathiot, Squire 58 

Market House 77 

Manufactures 477 

McCormick, William 38, 293 

McLean, Alexander ... .28, 4.) 

McGinnis, W. D 167 

McCoy's Reservoir 411 

Methodists, 332. 346.349.379,383 

Mercliants 292 

Meason, Isaac 393 

Mexican \\ ar 191 

Military 1 listory 170 

Mount I'utT 122 



INDEX 



663 



PAGE 

Morton, A. B 308 

Munson Heater Co., Ltd. 517 
Musters, Old Time 193 

Nailmakers 483 

National Locomotive Wks. 486 

Nemacolin 9, 12 

New Haven, Borough 117 

New Haven, Early Settle- 
ment 18, 28 

Newspapers 159 

Connellsville Herald 161 

Connellsville Enterprise.. 162 
Connellsville Tribune.... 164 
Connellsville Courier.... 164 

Connellsville News 167 

Connellsville Monitor. . . . 162 
Fayette County Republi- 
can 163 

Newcomer, John 324 

North, R. D 167 

Norton, Lester L..264, 298, 483 



Ohio Company 11 

Orth Bros 486 

Packers 38, 292 

Paper Mills 512 

Page Family 56 

Pharmacy 306 

Phillips, John and Charles. 56 

Photographers, First 317 

Pioneers 7, 53, 263, 335, 336 

Planing Mills 504 

Population 87 

Presbyterians 331, 353 

Public Ground 80 

Public Schools 129 

Public Institutions 43:i 

Public Utilities 393 

Quakers 330 

Railroads 113 

Rainey, W. J 281 



PAGE 

Revolutionary War 175 

Religion 327 

Reformed Church 373 

Riverside Metal Refining 

Co 514 

Roman Catholics 

334, 361, 377, 386 

Rogers, Daniel 60, 297 

Safe Works 520 

Sandusky Expedition 181 

Schools 120 

" Private 151 

" Parochial 152 

" New Haven 152 

School Children in Centen- 
nial 550 

Settlement, First 9, 2b 

Seals, Borough 88 

Sewers 109 

Semet Solvay Co 282 

Shoemakers 310 

Silversmiths 308 

Sla-^maker, Barry Lock 

Works 519 

Sligo Iron & Steel Co.... 495 

Snyder, H. P 165 

Soisson Fire Brick Works. 500 
South Connellsville Lumber 

Co 506 

South Pittsburgh Street in 

1855 309 

South West Natural Gas 

Co 431 

Spanish-American War.... 206 

Stewart's Crossing 18 

Stillwagon, Peter 61 

Stillwagon, J. D 318 

Street Paving 107 

Strikes 285 

Tanneries 499 

Taylor, John.. . .7 266 

Tenth Regiment 204 



564 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE 



PAGE 

Tenth Regiment Veteran 

Association 217 

Teamsters 301 

Telegraph Companies 415 

Telephone Companies 427 

Torrence & Co 227 

Trevor, Samuel and Caleb.. 295 

Trotter 279 

Tri-State Candy Co 516 

Union School 141 

Union Veteran Legion 215 

Union Furnace 482 

United Brethren Church ... 374 

United Presbyterian Church 367 

Undertaking 322 

Voters of the Borough.... 88 

Voters in 1806 78 

Vance, Crawford 298 

Wajer Works 112, 407 

Wallace, Aunt Jennie 399 



P.-VGE 

Washington, President 

George 13, 15, 29 

War of 1812 189 

W. C. T. U 391 

Welsh Church 37i^ 

Wells, Benjamin 187, 293 

Wetherell, L. A 313 

West Penn Electric Co.... 419 

West Penn Rys. Co 424 

West Penn Power Plant... 425 

Whiskey Insurrection 187 

Wholesale Business 322 

Youghiogheny, Derivation 

of Name 7, 87 

Blues 194 

Greens 196 

Bank 229 

Forge 482 

Bridge 393 

Light, Heat & Power 

Co 419 

M. C. A 386 



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